A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of 12 Weeks of Aerobic, Resistance, and Combined Exercises Training on the Serum Levels of Nesfatin-1, Irisin-1 and HOMA-IR

<b>Background/objective:</b> This study aimed to investigate the impacts of a 12-week training of the aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), and combined exercise (CE) on the serum levels of nesfatin-1, irisin-1 and some other metabolic and anthropometric indices in overweight women with metabolic syndrome. <b>Methods:</b> Sixty overweight women with metabolic syndrome were assigned equally into four groups: aerobic exercise (AE, <i>n</i> = 15), resistance exercise (RE, <i>n</i> = 15), combined exercise (CE, <i>n</i> = 15), and control (<i>n</i> = 15). All groups underwent 12 weeks of intervention. The study variables were measured before and 24 h after the intervention period. <b>Results:</b> Twelve weeks of training resulted in an increase of irisin-1 in the AE and CE groups and nesfatin-1 in all the intervention groups. As expected, all the trained groups exhibited a positive alteration in anthropometric indices and lipid profile in comparison with the control group. Besides, compared with the control group, insulin resistance (based on the homeostatic model assessment) in AE (<i>p</i> = 0.022), RE (<i>p</i> = 0.032), and CE (<i>p</i> < 0.001) groups were reduced significantly. According to the observed changes in the measured indices, serum irisin-1 was significantly correlated with body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR. However, with regard to nesfatin-1, only a negative correlation was observed with body fat percentage and LDL-cholesterol. <b>Conclusions:</b> The 12-week systematic training program changed circulating irisin-1 and nesfatin-1. Also, change in the serum irisin-1 and nesfatin-1 were correlated with the change in glycemic and anthropometric indices in addition to LDL-cholesterol. Also, exercise training significantly reduced fasting insulin and HOMA-IR in all the intervention groups. <b>RCT Registration Code:</b> IRCT20180806040721N2.