title: Irisin: A Potential Link between Physical Exercise and Metabolism-An Observational Study in Differently Trained Subjects, from Elite Athletes to Sedentary People.
abstract: We compared irisin levels among groups of differently trained healthy individuals to explore the role of irisin as a physiological linker between exercise and metabolic health. Irisin and biochemical parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed in 70 healthy volunteers stratified for sport performance level into four groups: (1) 20 elite athletes of national level, (2) 20 subelite athletes of local level, (3) 20 recreational athletes, and (4) 10 sedentary subjects. All biochemical parameters were within the ranges of normality. Fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol levels were inversely related to the degree of physical activity. HbA1c was higher in elite athletes compared to all the other groups (p< 0.01). A U-shaped relation between free fatty acids and the degree of physical activity was observed. All groups showed similar plasma irisin levels. After correction for the degree of insulin resistance (irisin/HOMA-IR), elite athletes showed higher levels compared to sedentary and recreational subjects (p< 0.01 andp< 0.05, resp.). In addition, the number of metabolic parameters correlated with irisin increased at increasing the training status. Our study suggests a correlation between sport performance, insulin sensitivity, and irisin levels. Irisin may be one potential mediator of the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolic profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0661-1657
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5833-0780
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dozio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banfi
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Institute, Metabolism, Nutrigenomics and Cellular Differentiation Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terruzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy; Metabolism Research Center, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Livio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3183-0552
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via L. Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; SMEL-1 Laboratory Medicine Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Via R. Morandi 30, San Donato Milanese, 20097 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano Marco
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Corsi Romanelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry; D056352:Athletes; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001786:Blood Glucose; C577593:FNDC5 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol; D005947:Glucose