Effects of a 1‐year exercise and lifestyle intervention on irisin, adipokines, and inflammatory markers in obese children

Objective Exercise improves weight status and metabolism. Irisin, a novel myokine, may be involved in the regulation of metabolic function. The effect of an exercise and dietary lifestyle intervention for 1-year on irisin, adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin) and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (sTNFR-II) was evaluated, and predictors of irisin levels were characterized in obese children. Methods Parameters were assessed at baseline and at follow-up for 65 obese children who completed the program (7–18 years, 54%boys). Their relation to weight status and metabolic risk was analyzed. Results Anthropometric and metabolic parameters improved after completion of the program. Circulating irisin levels at baseline were 111.0 ± 8.0 ng ml−1 and increased after the intervention by 12% [6%, 17%], P = 0.00003. There was no evidence for differences in irisin levels between genders and across age. Moreover, changes in irisin did not correlate with those in BMI-SDS, adipokines or inflammatory markers. Leptin decreased after the intervention (Δ5.3 ng ml−1, [3.2, 6.3], P = 10−7). Anthropometric measures were significantly associated with leptin and inflammatory markers. Conclusions A 1-year long lifestyle intervention program is associated with improvement in anthropometric and metabolic parameters and leads to an elevation in irisin levels in obese children.