The decorin and myostatin response to acute whole body vibration: impact of adiposity, sex, and race

Traditional forms of exercise affect immune, metabolic, and myokine responses and contribute to a multitude of health benefits. Whole body vibration (WBV) has recently emerged as an exercise mimetic that may be more tolerable for those individuals that cannot perform traditional exercise. However, the myokines response to acute WBV in humans has yet to be fully elucidated. To characterize the decorin and myostatin response to acute whole body vibration (WBV) and determine the impact of adiposity, sex, and race. One hundred twenty-nine adults (32.8 ± 0.4 years, 66.7% female, 53.5% non-Hispanic Black) were recruited as part of an ongoing, longitudinal twin cohort parent study. Participants were classified into three groups: those with obesity (OB: ≥30 kg/m2), those who are overweight (OW: ≥25 and <30 kg/m2), or those with normal weight (NW: <25 kg/m2) based on BMI. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 1 h (1H), 3 h (3H), and 24 h (24H) post WBV. The acute WBV protocol consisted of 10 cycles of 1 min of vibration exercise followed by 30 s of standing rest. The response was similar between NW and OW, so these groups were combined for analysis (NW/OW: BMI < 30 kg/m2). Overall, circulating concentrations of decorin were higher (p < 0.001) POST (8.80 ± 0.19 pg/mL) and significantly lower (p’s ≤ 0.005) at 1H (8.66 ± 0.19 pg/mL) and 3H (8.68 ± 0.19 pg/mL), compared to PRE (8.71 ± 0.19 pg/mL). Decorin POST was greater (p = 0.016) in the OB group (8.82 ± 0.18 pg/mL) compared to the NW/OW group (8.77 ± 0.20 pg/mL). Overall, myostatin was higher (p = 0.002) POST (54.93 ± 1.04 pg/mL) and lower (p < 0.001) at 24H (49.13 ± 1.04 pg/mL) compared to PRE (53.49 ± 1.04 pg/mL). The myostatin response was lower (p’s ≤ 0.001) in female and non-Hispanic White individuals compared to male and non-Hispanic Black individuals, respectively. A single bout of WBV can facilitate the release of decorin and myostatin into circulation, a similar response to traditional exercise. Additionally, adiposity, sex and race should be considered when evaluating the myokines response to WBV.