Effects of different exercise loads on serum betatrophin (ANGPTL-8/lipasin) and cartonectin (CTRP-3) levels in metabolic syndrome

Introduction

One of the consequences of consuming convenience food and lack of physical activities, metabolic syndrome is defined as a pathological condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Although the number of people affected by metabolic syndrome is thought to be parallel to the number of people affected by obesity and type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is three times higher than obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to the American National Center for Health Statistics [1, 2]. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) data, while the global diabetes prevalence for 2019 was 463 million people, it is predicted that this figure will rise to 700 million people by 2045 [3]. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed as the presence of three or more of the following factors which; hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, dysglycemia, increased waist circumference, and elevated blood pressure [4]. Additionally, circulating changes of some peptide hormones such as betatrophin have been reported to play a role in the development of the metabolic syndrome risk factors [5, 6].

Betatrophin (ANGPTL-8, lipasin) hormone is a peptide hormone secreted from the liver and adipose tissue, which is a member of angiopoietin-like proteins that are thought to be effective in glucose and triglyceride metabolism [5]. It has been reported that betatrophin levels are generally associated with triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and serum betatrophin levels increase in diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome [7]. It is also called lipasin due to its regulatory effects on lipoprotein lipase activities [8]. Although betatrophin levels have been investigated in studies in which aerobic and resistance exercises are applied, involving individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity [8, 9], there is not enough research on how betatrophin responds to different loads of exercises in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Cartonectin (CTRP-3), a member of the C1q/TNF-related proteins family, has been identified as an anti-inflammatory adipokine secreted from adipose tissue. It is reported that cartonectin, which has been shown to trigger the release of adipokine and resistin from mice adipocytes, behaves similarly to adipokine [10]. When the studies on cartonectin are examined, it is found that there is a limited number of studies investigating both exercise applications and metabolic syndrome. To the extent of our knowledge, cartonectin and exercise were only discussed together in the study of Choi et al. [11] in the case of a metabolic disease. Additionally, Hasegawa et al. [12] investigated cartonectin and exercise together in case of arterial stiffness. Since the results of studies on cartonectin in the literature are limited, the response of this adipokine to exercise is an essential research topic. The present research is a novel study which investigates betatrophin and cartonectin together with two types of exercise applications in metabolic syndrome.

Exercise applications as treatment methods gain importance in terms of severity, duration, and frequency to people who are affected by chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity [13], [14]. Exercises in general are divided as aerobic and anaerobic exercises depending on the energy metabolism they use. Briefly, aerobic exercises are relatively long-term exercises that use aerobic energy metabolism in which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is resynthesized using oxygen, and continues below the anaerobic threshold. In high-intensity and short-term loads that continue above the anaerobic threshold, the oxygen required for resynthesis of ATP is insufficient, and ATP is resynthesized anaerobically by the ATP and phosphocreatine (PC) energy metabolism called the phosphogen system [15, 16]. Exercises that continue in this way and include short-term high-intensity loads are defined as anaerobic exercises [16]. Both types of exercises are accepted practices that have positive effects on reducing the increase in adipose tissue, preventing complications of chronic diseases, and making the person feel better physically and psychologically [13, 14].

In the light of this knowledge, the purposes of the present study are to investigate the effect of aerobic and anaerobic exercises on the levels of betatrophin and cartonectin secreted from adipose tissue and to determine the most effective exercise type to be applied to individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Materials and methods

The study was approved by Firat University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee (Meeting Number: 2018/05, Decision No: 60, Protocol No: 2108/27) and supported by Firat University Scientific Research Projects Unit (FUBAP) with project number BSY.19.02.

Results

When the weight changes of the groups at the end of the study were examined in Table 1, it was seen that the mean of G2 was the highest and the mean of G4 was the lowest. There was a significant difference between these groups (p<0.05). In glucose levels, it was seen that there was a significant differentiation and this differentiation was due to the lowest level of G4 (p<0.05). In triglyceride levels, it was seen that there was a significant differentiation and this differentiation was between G1–G2 and G2–G4 (p<0.05). In HDL-C levels, it was seen that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). In LDL levels, it was seen that there was a significant differentiation and this differentiation was caused by G4 (p<0.05). It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference in total cholesterol levels (p>0.05). It was seen that there was a statistically significant difference between groups in uric acid levels and this differentiation was due to G2 (p<0.05). In betatrophin levels, it was seen that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups and this differentiation was caused by G2 (p<0.05). HDL-C levels of G3 were negatively correlated with betatrophin levels (p<0.05) (Table 2). Uric Acid levels of G2 were positively correlated with betatrophin levels (p<0.05) (Table 2). In cartonectin levels, it was seen that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Total cholesterol levels of G3 were positively correlated with cartonectin levels (p<0.05) (Table 3).

Figure 1:

The process of study.

Discussion

Considering the weight changes as a result of the research, it was seen that the weight level of G2 was statistically significantly higher than the control group (G1), G3, and G4. It is seen that the weight levels of G3 and G4 decreased statistically compared to G1 and G2 as a result. This suggests that exercise may have a positive effect on weight control. As for which type of exercise is more effective, the finding that the weight level of the anaerobic exercise group was lower than the aerobic exercise group suggests that short-term high-intensity anaerobic exercises may be more effective for weight control.

Er [21] reported in her study that statistically significant decreases were observed in weight levels of the rats compared to the weight levels of rats that received only fructose. Dal [22] reported a statistically significant decrease in the weight levels of patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome after eight week mild-moderate exercises. Additionally, Özçelik [23] reported that there were decreases in weight levels in the exercise groups in the study which calorie restriction and exercise were applied to metabolic syndrome induced rats.

The statistical analysis of the research groups’ glucose levels in the present study has shown that G3’s glucose levels were almost the same as G2, while G4’s glucose levels were statistically significantly lower than the other groups. Considering the research results, it can be inferred that anaerobic exercises have more positive effects on glucose balance in metabolic syndrome than aerobic exercises.

Machado et al. [24] reported that exercises, applied at both intensities and periods, decreased glucose levels in their study, in which treadmill exercises were applied to obese rats with metabolic syndrome at 60% and 80% of two intensities and for two different periods for 3–5 days in a week. Koç [25] reported a statistically significant decrease in glucose levels in the exercise groups in the study which examine the effects of exercise and calorie restriction in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. Additionally, Dieli-Conwright et al. [26] reported that the glucose levels of individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome decreased significantly after the exercise applications and did not increase to the basal level during the three month follow-up period in their study, in which aerobic exercise and resistance exercises were applied in a combined manner.

The statistical analysis of the triglyceride levels of research groups in the present study, it was seen that the triglyceride levels of G2 were significantly higher than the other groups. When the results of the exercise groups were examined, it was found that the triglyceride levels of both exercise groups decreased significantly compared to the level of G2 and there was no significant difference between the groups that were exercised. The greater decrease in G4 suggests that anaerobic exercises are more effective methods for regulating the lipid profile.

When the statistical analysis of the HDL-C levels of our research groups is considered, while there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, it was seen that the HDL-C levels of G2 were low and the HDL-C levels of the exercise groups were similar to the G1. In the study by Earnest et al. [27] which aerobic and resistance exercises were applied to individuals with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, it was reported that the triglyceride, LDL-C, and total cholesterol levels of the groups that were exercised after nine months of practice were lower than the control group. Considering HDL-C levels in the same study, there was no statistically significant difference, but exercise practices increased HDL-C levels, as it was in the present study. Similarly, in another study held by Moholdt et al. [28], in which aerobic interval exercises and continuous moderate intensity exercises were applied to individuals with metabolic syndrome for 16 weeks, it was reported that triglyceride levels of both exercise groups were lower than the control group, although there was no statistically significant decrease in their basal status. Additionally, it was stated that there was an increase in the HDL-C levels of the same participants after the exercise applications, although it was not statistically significant, similar to the present study.

When the statistical analyzes of serum betatrophin levels of our research groups were examined at the end of the six week exercises, it was seen that betatrophin levels of G2 and G3 are significantly higher than betatrophin levels of G1. While no statistically significant difference was found among the groups that were exercised, it was seen that betatrophin levels of G4 are at the lowest level among the metabolic syndrome induced groups. In the light of these results, it can be said that, anaerobic exercises are more effective to reduce the increased betatrophin levels in metabolic syndrome and preventing the complications that may arise from the increase of betatrophin, and creating exercise programs to be applied to individuals with metabolic syndrome using anaerobic exercises would be a more effective treatment or a prevention method of metabolic syndrome. Betatrophin, a protein originated from liver and adipose tissue, can be predicted as a biomarker that its levels should be kept under control in order to prevent dyslipidemia in individuals with metabolic syndrome due to its effects on triglyceride and glucose metabolism. Besides, a positive correlation between increased uric acid levels and betatrophin levels were determined in G2. This positive relationship suggests that betatrophin increases in circulation as a complication of fructose metabolism. However, a negative correlation in HDL-C levels and betatrophin levels were determined in G2. It is possible to associate the deterioration in the lipid profile of the same group with the increase in betatrophin in the circulation. Considering the changes in lipid profile and betatrophin levels of exercise groups, it can be said that anaerobic exercises are a more effective method in the treatment of dyslipidemia caused by the role of betatrophin in metabolic syndrome. In the same vein, Sertogullarindan et al. [29] stated that high levels of betatrophin have a central role in dysregulating serum lipid levels.

Abu Fahra et al. [30] reported in their research that the betatrophin levels of the individuals with metabolic syndrome were higher than the control group and that high betatrophin levels were associated with C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome components; moreover, the role of betatrophin in metabolic and inflammation pathways were reported in the study. On the other hand, Wang et al. [31] argued that the disease occurs by increasing the level of metabolic syndrome components by decreasing betatrophin levels, unlike our study. In another study held by Hu et al. [32], in which aerobic exercises were applied to individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity for six months, five days a week and for at least 30 min a day, it was reported that the betatrophin levels of the exercise group decreased significantly at the end of six months of exercise compared to the pre-exercise levels.

When the statistical analysis of the serum cartonectin levels of our research groups was examined at the end of the six week exercises, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. However, it was seen that the cartonectin levels of G2 and G4 were higher than the other groups. The correlations in the levels of cartonectin and total cholesterol in G2 can be related to the anti-inflammatory effect of cartonectin. Similarly, Tan et al. [33] also reported a correlation between cartonectin and total cholesterol levels. Furthermore, in the study held by Yoo et al. [34] it was reported that serum cartonectin was significantly negatively associated with total cholesterol levels.

As for the cartonectin levels, Hasegawa et al. [12] reported that the cartonectin levels of the exercise group increased statistically significantly at the end of the applications in their study, in which aerobic exercises were applied to middle-aged and elderly individuals, three days a week and 55 min a day for eight weeks. In the study held by Choi et al. [11], in which a combined exercise program including three month aerobic and resistance exercises were applied to obese women, the levels of cartonectin were examined. The participants performed aerobic exercise on the treadmill for 45 min a day, five days a week, with loads of 60–75% of their heart rate. In addition, 20 min of strength training was applied in combination with aerobic exercise. It was reported that there was no statistically significant difference in cartonectin levels of obese and non-obese women, while a statistically significant decrease was reported in obese women with combined exercises. However, it has been reported that cartonectin levels correlate with age, gender, triglyceride, LDL-C, and adiponectin levels.

The strongest aspect of this research is that it is a novel study in which betatrophin and cartonectin are discussed together in terms of metabolic syndrome and changes in exercise practices. In particular, analyzing aerobic and anaerobic exercises comparably is an important feature of the study. Additionally, it is one of a limited number of studies involving different exercise types and metabolic syndrome, especially in terms of cartonectin.

As the number and the gender of the animals used in the study could be a limiting factor, it might be suggested to involve more subjects and both genders for further studies. It might also be suggested that the longer the duration of exercise applications, the better the effects could be understood. The presented research focused on changes after six weeks of exercise, three days a week. Studies in which exercise durations are designed differently might provide results that show different aspects of the changes in betatrophin and cartonectin levels.

Conclusions

As the findings of the present study indicates, it could be thought that anaerobic exercises are more effective in reducing glucose and triglyceride levels than aerobic exercises, and this effect is shown by regulating betatrophin levels. When the literature is reviewed, the number of studies examining the change in betatrophin with exercise in metabolic syndrome is limited. Especially in terms of anaerobic exercises, our research will contribute to the literature on this subject.

When the effects of two different loads of exercises in terms of levels of cartonectin, which is known as an anti-inflammatory adipokine were analyzed, it was found that the cartonectin levels increased with anaerobic exercises and decreased with aerobic exercises. Moreover, it was found that the group with metabolic syndrome, which did not do exercise, also had high levels of cartonectin. The present study is one of the distinctive studies investigating cartonectin levels with metabolic syndrome and exercise applications together.