Background: Overweight and obesity are the most common metabolic disease in the world and cause or exacerbate many of the diseases that are associated with reduced quality of life. PGC-1α and SIRT1 are important factors that play an important role in controlling obesity and metabolic disorders, so that these two indexes increase the capacity of the antioxidant system to maintain the balance between oxidative stress and the antioxidant system in the body. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks training circuit resistance training on serum levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α and percentage of fat in obese men.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 22 obese men were randomly divided into two groups of exercise and control. Training program was consisting of three sessions per week for eight weeks with intensity between 60 to 80 percent of 1RM. Venous blood samples the pre-test and post-test for measured of SIRT1 and PGC-1α was used. BMI, body fat percentage and weight of the subjects were evaluated before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by independent tests using SPSS software version 23.
Results: Mean age of the training group in the exercise group was 36.36 ± 2.61 and the control was 35.36 ± 3.04. Evaluation of intergroup changes in the levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α, weight and fat percentage showed that was significantly different between groups (P<0.001). Eight weeks of exercise training significantly increased the levels of SIRT1 (P <0.001) and PGC-1α (P <0.001) and significantly decreased the levels of fat percentage and weight (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: circuit resistance training can increase levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α, and reduce weight and fat percentage.