Iranian Journal of

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Background: The effects of regular exercise on miRNA profile and oxidative stress indices are less known. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in expression of  miR-17 and oxidative stress indices in overweight and obese women following high-intensity functional training.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 22 overweight and obese women were randomly divided into two groups of high-intensity functional training (n= 10) and control (n= 12). The subjects of the training group performed high-intensity functional exercises 3 times a week for 8 weeks and intensity of rating of perceived exertion≥7. Before and after 8 weeks, blood samples were taken to measure expression of miR-17 gene, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the data.
Results: After eight weeks of high-intensity functional training, expression of miR-17 in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to the control group (P= 0.001). After eight weeks of high-intensity functional training, TAC (P= 0.0001), GPX (P= 0.007) and SOD (P= 0.001) increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. No significant change was observed in MDA (P= 0.778).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that eight weeks of high-intensity functional training may lead to the reduction of miR-17 expression and the improvement of oxidative stress indices and antioxidant enzymes, which may be effective in improving metabolic indices and obesity complications.

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Background: Physical activity and green tea are one of the recommended ways to control obesity and its complications such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and liver inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of exercise training and green tea on lipid profile in adults with overweight and obesity.
Methods: A systematic search of English and Persian articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SID, Civilica, and Magiran databases was conducted until June 2024.
Results: A total of 14 studies with 390 adults with overweight and obesity, of which 198 subjects were in the combined exercise and green tea group with an average age of 34 years old and BMI with an average of 30 kg.m2, of which 192 subjects in the control group with an average age of 34 years old and BMI with an average of 31 kg.m2 entered the present meta-analysis. The results showed that the combination of exercise training and green tea caused a significant decrease in TC [WMD=-22.923 mg/dL, P=0.001], TG [WMD=-9.946 mg/dL, P=0.001], LDL [WMD=-11.675 mg/dL, P=0.001] and significant increase in HDL [WMD=8.888 mg/dL, P=0.017] in adults with overweight and obesity, compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis showed that the combination of exercise training and green tea in overweight and obese adults decreases TC, TG, LDL and increases HDL. Therefore, exercise and green tea can be suggested to to adults with overweight and obesity as a non-medicinal and practical solution to improve lipid profile.

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Background: Today, obesity is closely related to metabolic syndrome and especially type 2 diabetes, which changes the secretion and release of adipocytokines, and different training programs have different results on these indicators. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the durability of changes caused by exercise programs on adipocytokine indices of obese type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 45 obese men with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into a control group (no exercise) and 4 exercise groups (aerobic, combined, resistance and high-intensity interval). The exercise program of the groups was considered based on the calories consumed in each session. The participants performed 12 weeks of training programs and 12 weeks of non-training. Physiological, anthropometric indicators and inflammatory and pro-inflammatory indicators (IL-6, TNF-α, resistin and leptin) and anti-inflammatory indicators (adiponectin and SFRP5) were measured before the program and at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24. became.
Results: After 12 weeks of combined, aerobic, high intensity and resistance training, anti-inflammatory indices (adiponectin and SFRP5) showed a significant increase compared to the baseline (before starting the training program) (P< 0.05). Regarding pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory indicators (IL-6, TNF-α, resistin and leptin), a significant decrease was observed in all groups after 12 weeks of training program (P< 0.05). In this study, a significant improvement in weight loss and blood glucose was observed after 12 weeks of exercise program in all 4 exercise groups (P< 0.05). In the second part of the findings (non-training or durability of training effect), it was resistance training that showed a lower percentage decrease (P< 0.05) in anti-inflammatory indices and an increase in pro-inflammatory and inflammatory indices after 12 weeks of non-training, which showed the durability It shows more recovery in obese type 2 diabetic patients (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of the research showed that high-intensity interval training after 12 weeks can cause a greater effect on inflammatory, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory indicators compared to aerobic, combined and resistance training. But this is the resistance exercise that caused the reduction in inflammatory, pro-inflammatory indicators and increase in anti-inflammatory indicators in obese type 2 diabetic patients to be more permanent. Therefore, the effectiveness of resistance training in non-training conditions from three methods of high-intensity interval training, aerobic and combined (aerobic + resistance) has a greater effect on low-grade inflammation and results in a longer recovery in obese type 2 diabetic patients.
 

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Background: Obesity is a multifactorial disease whose incidence and burden on societies around the world is increasing. Sexual performance in these patients is an important aspect that is often ignored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a period of endurance training along with electrical stimulation on the gene expression of some sex markers in testicular tissue of fasted obese rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, with a control group of 40 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, weighing 200±19 grams), after induction of obesity and weight gain, randomly divided into 5 groups of 8: control, fasting-obese, fasting-endurance exercise, fasting-electrical stimulation and Fasting-endurance training-electrical stimulation were divided. Intervention groups for a period of 4 weeks under endurance sports activity (with a speed of 10 to 20 m/min and duration of 20 to 40 minutes), electrical stimulation (foot shock device for 0.5 mA and 20 minutes) and fasting (8 to 16 hours) were placed. After exercise and anesthesia, tissue sampling was done and after molecular processes, gene expression was measured using Real time-PCR machine. For data analysis, two-way analysis of variance test was used at a significance level of P< 0.05 and GraphPad software.
Results: The results showed that endurance training led to a significant increase in the expression of 5αR and aromatase genes in fasting obese rats compared to the obese group (P= 0.0001). Also, electrical stimulation and its combination with endurance training led to a significant increase in the expression of 5αR gene (P= 0.0001), but this increase was not significant in Aromatase gene (P= 0.377).
Conclusion: It seems that endurance training and electrical stimulation during fasting by increasing the expression of 5-alpha reductase and aromatase genes in obese samples is effective in their sexual health and leads to its improvement. Also, a combination of electrical stimulation and exercise can have positive effects on this process, but more studies are needed.

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Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval games and high intensity interval training on body composition indicators, aerobic capacity and lipid profiles of obese and overweight girls aged 10 to 12 years.
Methods: In this semi-experimental research, 30 girls (average height 149.26 ± 5.32 m, weight 67.41 ± 7.65 kg, and body mass index 30.14 ± 2.3 kg/m2) with overweight and obesity participated and were randomly divided into the groups of high intensity interval training (10), high intensity interval game (10) and the control (10). Training programs for eight weeks(3d/w), (90-85% of maximum heart rate) and 3-minute recovery (65-75% of maximum heart rate) with 4 times Repetition was done, which was done in the form of running in high intensity interval training and in the form of playing in high intensity interval game. Blood samples were taken to measure the serum levels of lipid profiles (48 hours before and after the intervention period).
Results: The two training groups compared to the control group, increased aerobic capacity and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and body fat percentage, Triglyceride (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P< 0.010) showed a significant decrease and between the two training groups in TG, LDL and HDL (P< 0.01) was a significant difference, with a greater increase in HDL and a greater decrease in TG and LDL was accompanied in the high intensity game group.
Conclusion: High intensity interval games can be suggested as a more suitable solution to improve the lipid profile of obese and overweight girls.

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Desmond et al. (2025) have recently shown that subcutaneous injections of Mycobacterium vaccae ATCC 15483(M. vaccae) in adolescent male mice significantly prevented excessive weight gain and visceral adiposity induced by a Western-style diet. Despite no change in gut microbiota diversity, this intervention lowered hippocampal neuroinflammation markers (Nfkbia, Nlrp3) and anxiety-like behaviors. Since more than one billion people worldwide and about 30% of Iranian population are influenced by obesity, and this disease caused one in eight deaths from noncommunicable diseases in 2024, these microbiome-based strategies could have clinical value. Such approaches that target immunometabolic pathways represent a promising and interdisciplinary strategy that integrates endocrinology, microbiology, and the psychosomatic aspects of metabolic disorders. Nevertheless, M. vaccae media portrayal as an obesity vaccine causes misunderstanding. This treatment reduces, but does not completely hinder, diet-associated weight gain and could not be replaced with healthy diet habits. However, it could be considered as a supplementary approach to reduce the adverse effects of ultra-processed food consumption and could potentially augment existing obesity treatments, such as microbiome-based interventions, pharmaceutical therapies, and bariatric surgery. More extensive clinical trials are required to determine human efficacy, optimal dosing, safety, and integration with current obesity therapies.

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Background: Metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Research suggests that exercise training may improve cardiometabolic health in this population. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of exercise on these risk factors in children and adolescents with metabolic syndrome., and behavioral outcomes in children and promoting awareness, self-care skills, and quality of life in families.
Methods: A systematic search of English and Persian articles was conducted from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases without time limits until May 2024. In data analysis, a random-effects model was used to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD), standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Also, heterogeneity of studies was assessed with the I² test.
Results: The results of 6 studies involving 1,761 participants demonstrated that exercise training led to significant reductions in body weight [WMD = −6.32 kg, P=0.001], waist circumference [WMD = −9.11 cm, P=0.001], LDL [WMD = −0.52 mmol/L, P=0.001], TC [WMD = −0.65 mmol/L, P=0.001], serum TG [WMD = -0.56 mmol/L, P=0.001)], fasting glucose [WMD = −0.19 mmol/L, P=0.03], fasting insulin [SMD = −1.01, P=0.001], and HOMA-IR [WMD = −1.60, P=0.001] compared to the control group in obese children and adolescents with metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Exercise interventions significantly reduce body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure, while improving lipid profiles, including serum LDL, TC, and TG levels, in obese children and adolescents with metabolic syndrome. However, these interventions exhibited no significant impact on serum HDL concentrations. Consequently, to reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improve metabolic conditions, it is essential to implement long-term exercise interventions.

 

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Background: Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing, particularly in the Middle East where central obesity is a major contributor to disease burden. Identifying high-risk individuals requires indices that assess visceral adiposity more effectively than body mass index (BMI). This study compared nine anthropometric indices in relation to diabetes and determined their predictive capacity and optimal cut-off values.
Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 10,103 adults aged 35–70 years from the FASA cohort. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or antidiabetic medication use. Measurements included BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body roundness index (BRI), body adiposity index (BAI), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and weight-adjusted waist index (WWI). Associations were examined using logistic regression (crude and adjusted models). Discriminatory accuracy was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC), and Youden's index. 
Results: Individuals with diabetes exhibited higher values across anthropometric indices (p< 0.05). In adjusted models, WC, WHR, WHtR, AVI, and WWI remained significant predictors (p< 0.05). WHR demonstrated the highest AUC (0.651, p< 0.001). Optimal cut-off values with high sensitivity and specificity included WHR= 0.91, WHtR= 0.53, and BRI= 4.1. 
Conclusion: Central obesity indices—particularly WHR, WHtR, and BRI—demonstrated superior discriminatory capacity for diabetes and support the use of simple waist-based indices for early screening.

 

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Background: Regular physical activity is recognized as one of the most effective clinical interventions for reducing Asprosin levels in individuals with obesity. The present review aimed to investigate the effects of physical exercise on serum Asprosin levels in healthy obese men and women.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate up to February 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised studies involving healthy obese adults as participants, with interventions consisting of structured physical activity or exercise protocols. Studies including individuals with normal weight or overweight, or those using dietary supplements, were excluded. Ultimately, six studies met the eligibility criteria. Extracted data included participant characteristics, type and intensity of intervention, exercise duration, and the method of serum Asprosin measurement. Study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale.
Results: A total of six studies examining various types of physical activity—including high-intensity resistance training, aerobic exercise, and combined exercise-dietary interventions—were included. All studies reported that regular physical activity led to reductions in serum Asprosin levels in healthy obese men and women. Despite differences in intervention type and intensity, the overall trend consistently indicated a decrease in Asprosin levels. Due to heterogeneity in study design, intervention type, and duration, a meta-analysis was not feasible, and results were summarized qualitatively.
Conclusion: The findings of this review suggest that high-intensity resistance training has the most pronounced effect on lowering Asprosin levels. Furthermore, combined interventions, such as aerobic-resistance training alongside dietary modifications, demonstrated the greatest impact on reducing Asprosin. Regular physical activity, particularly when performed at higher intensities, plays a crucial role in obesity management through Asprosin reduction.
 

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Background: The present study investigated the effects of curcumin supplementation along with a weight loss diet on the relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut of metabolically healthy obese men.
Methods: In the present double-blinded controlled clinical trial, sixty metabolically healthy obese men (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) participated. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups receiving curcumin supplementation (500 mg, twice daily) or placebo. The duration of the intervention was eight weeks. The samples were matched for age and dietary intake before the study. Stool samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study and the relative abundance of bacteria was measured after DNA extraction.
Results: The relative abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in men undergoing placebo intervention decreased after 8 weeks (P= 0.04) and was significantly lower than that in the curcumin intervention group (P= 0.003). The mean changes in faecalibacterium prausnitzii increased in the curcumin while they decreased in the placebo group (P= 0.03). In addition, the mean changes in Roseburia intestinalis increased in the curcumin and decreased in the placebo group (P= 0.009).
Conclusion: Weight loss diet leads to a decrease in the relative abundance of butyrogenic bacteria in the gut of obese men, while curcumin supplementation can lead to an increase in the population of these bacteria, as one of the methods of treating obesity.