Effect of Training and Gender on Plasma Irisin, Leptin, and Insulin Levels

Abstract

The objective of this study is the comparison of the irisin, leptin, and insulin hormone levels of the female and male elite taekwondo athletes and non-athletes. Elite taekwondo athletes (7 males, 6 females) and university students (8 males, 6 females) between the ages of 16 and 20 who do not do exercise regularly and who are moderately active have taken part in the study. In the beginning of the study, the body compositions of the participants were determined and their plasma irisin, leptin, and insulin hormone analyses were determined by means of the Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) method receiving their blood samples at 8:00 a.m. after a night of staying hungry. It was found that no impact of training and gender on the irisin and insulin hormone levels had appeared jointly or separately (p>0,05) while they affected the leptin levels significantly (p<0.05). The leptin levels in females in both athletes and non-athletes were determined to be higher than males to significant extent and the leptin levels of both female and male athletes were significantly lower than non-athletes. As a result, it can be said that regular exercise and gender do not affect the levels of irisin and insulin hormones but they affect the leptin level significantly.