Serum leptin, lipoprotein levels, and glucose homeostasis between national wrestlers and sedentary males

Abstract

Aim: Leptin is an important controller of the size of fat stores by inhibiting appetite. In wrestling, fat metabolism is important not only for aerobic energy system, but also for weight control and weight loss before competition. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the serum leptin levels, glucose homeostasis, and serum lipoproteins between Turkish national wrestlers and sedentary males. Materials and methods: Forty-five Turkish national wrestlers at the end of Olympic training camp before Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and 43 sedentary students were selected as subjects. Post-exercise levels of serum leptin, HOMA (Homeostasis model assessment) values, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol were measured after overnight fasting. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the differences between 2 groups. Pearson Correlation was conducted between leptin and the other parameters. Results: No significant difference was observed among the means of leptin and total cholesterol levels of the 2 groups. Wrestlers had significantly higher fasting insulin, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and HOMA levels, but a lower LDL-cholesterol level compared to the sedentary males. The positive correlation was only found between leptin and fasting insulin levels (r = 0.310, P = 0.043). Conclusion: This study indicated that wrestling training had no effect on resting leptin level after overnight fasting and wrestlers had also decreased insulin sensitivity with higher fasting insulin, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and HOMA levels compared to sedentary males. © TÜBİTAK.