Combined Training (Strength and Endurance) and the Serum Levels of Myostatin and Hormone-sensitive Lipase in Overweight and Obese Men

Effect of Upper Body and Lower Body Combined Training (Strength and Endurance) on the Serum Levels of Myostatin and Hormone-sensitive Lipase in Overweight and Obese Men

This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of upper body-based and lower body-based combined training on serum levels of myostatin (MSTN) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in overweight and obese men. Myostatin is a myokine involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth and adipose tissue metabolism, while HSL is a key enzyme involved in lipolysis and fat mobilization.

Thirty-six overweight and obese men were assigned to either an upper body combined training group, a lower body combined training group, or a non-exercising control group. The intervention consisted of 10 weeks of combined resistance and aerobic training performed three times per week. Serum levels of MSTN and HSL were measured before and after the intervention to determine whether upper body-focused and lower body-focused combined training produce different effects on markers associated with muscle growth and lipid metabolism.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Overweight (BMI > 25); Obesity (BMI>30)
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Upper Body Combined Training; Behavioral: Lower Body Combined Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Iran
  • Tehran Province
    • Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran
      • Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences of the University of Tehran

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male participants aged 20 to 45 years.
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m².
• Overweight or obese status.
• No participation in regular resistance or aerobic exercise during the previous 6 months.
• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus.
• Presence of cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
• Musculoskeletal or joint injuries that could interfere with exercise participation.
• Use of anti-obesity medications.
• Use of anabolic steroids, sports supplements, or fat-burning supplements.
• Regular alcohol consumption or tobacco use.
• Absence from more than two training sessions during the intervention period.
• Withdrawal of consent or unwillingness to continue participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Upper Body Combined Training; Participants completed a 10-week upper body-focused combined training program three times per week. Each session consisted of upper body resistance exercises followed by aerobic exercise performed on a hand ergometer. Resistance training included chest press, rowing machine, biceps curl, triceps extension, shoulder press, and abdominal exercises.	Behavioral: Upper Body Combined Training; Participants completed a 10-week upper body-focused combined training program performed three times per week. Each session included six upper body resistance exercises (chest press, rowing machine, biceps curl, triceps extension, shoulder press, and abdominal machine exercises) followed by aerobic exercise on a hand ergometer. Resistance training was performed for 3 sets during the first 5 weeks and 4 sets during weeks 6-10, with 8-12 repetitions per set. Aerobic exercise began at 20 minutes and increased by 1 minute each week, reaching 29 minutes in the final week. Exercise intensity was maintained at approximately 57-66% of maximum heart rate during aerobic training.; Other Names: Upper Body Resistance and Aerobic Training
Experimental: Lower Body Combined Training; Participants completed a 10-week lower body-focused combined training program three times per week. Each session consisted of lower body resistance exercises followed by aerobic exercise performed on a leg ergometer. Resistance training included leg press, leg extension, leg flexion, leg abduction, leg adduction, and calf raise exercises.	Behavioral: Lower Body Combined Training; Participants completed a 10-week lower body-focused combined training program performed three times per week. Each session included six lower body resistance exercises (leg press, leg extension, leg flexion, leg abduction, leg adduction, and calf raise exercises) followed by aerobic exercise on a leg ergometer. Resistance training was performed for 3 sets during the first 5 weeks and 4 sets during weeks 6-10, with 8-12 repetitions per set. Aerobic exercise began at 20 minutes and increased by 1 minute each week, reaching 29 minutes in the final week. Exercise intensity was maintained at approximately 57-66% of maximum heart rate during aerobic training.; Other Names: Lower Body Resistance and Aerobic Training
No Intervention: Control; Participants in the control group did not participate in the exercise intervention and were instructed to maintain their usual daily activities throughout the 10-week study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in serum myostatin (MSTN) concentration	Serum myostatin concentration measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The outcome was assessed before the intervention and 48 hours after completion of the 10-week training program.	Baseline and 10 weeks
Change in serum hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) concentration	Serum hormone-sensitive lipase concentration measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The outcome was assessed before the intervention and 48 hours after completion of the 10-week training program.	Baseline and 10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Arya Habibi

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 18, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 14, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: IR.UT.SPORT.REC.1403.064

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be made publicly available. The study was not originally designed with a formal data-sharing plan, and participant-level data contain information that could potentially compromise participant confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No