Myokine Circulating Levels in Postmenopausal Women with Overweight or Obesity: Effects of Resistance Training and/or DHA-Rich n-3 PUFA Supplementation

TL;DR

This study examines how resistance training and DHA supplementation affect myokine levels and cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the effects of resistance training and DHA on myokine levels and cardiometabolic health in postmenopausal women.

Findings

Resistance training improved muscle quality and myostatin levels decreased in RT and n-3 groups.

DHA supplementation improved cardiometabolic markers and reduced TNF-α levels across all groups.

No interactions between resistance training and DHA supplementation were observed.

Abstract

Background: Menopause increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) accompanied by a decline in muscle function. Myokines, released by skeletal muscle, could play a significant role in cardiovascular health. Objectives and Methods: This study aimed to investigate the changes induced by a 16-week resistance training (RT) program and/or the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich n-3 PUFA supplementation on myokine and cytokine circulating levels and to study their associations with parameters of body composition, muscle function, and glucose and lipid serum markers in postmenopausal women with overweight/obesity. Results: At baseline, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were positively correlated with body fat and with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and negatively associated with meterorin-like (METRNL) levels. Moreover, METRNL was inversely associated with insulin levels and with HOMA-IR. After the intervention, muscle quality improved with either treatment but more notably in response to RT. N-3 supplementation caused significant improvements in cardiometabolic health markers. TNF-α decreased in all experimental groups. Myostatin levels decreased in the RT and in the n-3 groups, and IL-6 increased in the n-3+RT group. Lastly, no interactions between treatments were observed. Conclusions: In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, RT could help improve skeletal muscle function, while DHA-rich n-3 supplementation might decrease CVD risk and might potentially improve muscle function. The modulation of myokine levels could be underlying some of the effects of DHA or RT; however, further research is necessary.

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