Effects of Exercise Intervention on Mitochondrial Stress Biomarkers in Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) pathogenesis involves oxidative stress associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggers integrated stress responses via various compensatory metabolic modulators like mitokines and hepatokines. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the exercise-derived benefits with respect to mitokines and hepatokines (potential MetS biomarkers) are unknown. Thus, we investigated the effects of exercise training on MetS biomarkers and their associations with clinical parameters. In this single-center trial, 30 women with MetS were randomly assigned to 12-week supervised exercise or control groups (1:1) and compared with 12 age-matched healthy volunteers. All participants completed the study except one subject in the control group. Expectedly, serum levels of the mitokines, fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), and the hepatokine, angiopoietin-like 6 (ANGPTL6), were higher in MetS patients than in healthy volunteers. Moreover, their levels were markedly attenuated in the exercise group. Further, exercise-mediated changes in serum FGF21 and GDF15 correlated with changes in the homeostasis model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and appendicular lean mass (ALM), respectively. Additionally, changes in serum triglycerides and ANGPTL6 were correlated with changes in leptin. Aberrant mitokine and hepatokine levels can be rectified by relieving metabolic stress burden. Therefore, exercise training may reduce the need for the compensatory upregulation of MetS metabolic modulators by improving gluco-lipid metabolism.