Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of green tea extract supplementation and endurance training on irisin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adiponectin concentrations in overweight middle-aged men

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Green tea extract (GTE) supplementation has been proposed to possess anti-inflammatory properties. This study assessed the effects of GTE on endurance training (ET) induced changes on irisin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, adiponectin and anthropometric indices in overweight middle-aged males.

Methods

Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15): endurance training + placebo (ET + P), endurance training + green tea extract supplementation (ET + GTE), and no endurance training + placebo (P). The ET intervention consisted of an 8-week training program that included circuit training, fast walking or jogging performed three times/week at a moderate intensity (40–59% of the heart rate reserve). Participants received 500 mg/day GTE using a green tea capsule. Serum concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), irisin, adiponectin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured prior to and after the 8-week training intervention.

Results

Both exercise interventions decreased IL-6 and hs-CRP (p < 0.05), and increased adiponectin (p < 0.01) levels; changes in these variables were greater in the ET + GTE group compared to the ET + P and P groups (p < 0.01). Irisin concentrations increased only in the ET + GTE group and were different from the ET + P and P groups (p < 0.01). There were no changes in TNF-α concentrations in any of the groups. Both exercise interventions (ET + GTE and ET + P) decreased bodyweight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), and visceral fat area (VFA) (p < 0.05), with greater changes in these variables occurring in the ET + GTE group compared to ET + P and P groups (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The combination of GTE supplementation and ET produces beneficial anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects, which were greater than those produced by ET alone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ET:

Endurance training

GTE:

Green tea extract

hs-CRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

IL-6:

Interleukin 6

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

References

  • Alipour M, Malihi R, Hosseini SA, Abbasnezhad A, Ghavami A, Shahmohammadi HA, Ghanavati M (2018) The effects of catechins on related risk factors with Type 2 diabetes: a review. Progress Nutr 20:12–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Amozadeh H, Shabani R, Nazari M (2018) The effect of aerobic training and green tea supplementation on cardio metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese females: a randomized trial. Int J Endocrinol Metab 16:4–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashtary-Larky D et al (2018) Waist circumference to height ratio: better correlation with fat mass than other anthropometric indices during dietary weight loss in different rates. Int J Endocrinol Metab 16:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Astrup A, Toubro S, Cannon S, Hein P, Breum L, Madsen J (1990) Caffeine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers. Am J Clin Nutr 51:759–767

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Auvichayapat P et al (2008) Effectiveness of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais: a randomized, controlled trial. Physiol Behav 93:486–491

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri R et al (2019a) Does green tea extract enhance the anti‐inflammatory effects of exercise on fat loss?. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri R, Rashidlamir A, Motevalli MS, Elliott BT, Mehrabani J, Wong A (2019b) Effects of upper-body, lower-body, or combined resistance training on the ratio of follistatin and myostatin in middle-aged men. Eur J Appl Physiol 9:1921–1931

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker RG, Hayden MS, Ghosh S (2011) NF-κB, inflammation, and metabolic disease. Cell Metab 13:11–22

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanski P, Suliburska J, Szulinska M, Stepien M, Pupek-Musialik D, Jablecka A (2012) Green tea extract reduces blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress and improves parameters associated with insulin resistance in obese, hypertensive patients. Nutr Res 32:421–427

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boström P et al (2012) A PGC1-α-dependent myokine that drives brown-fat-like development of white fat and thermogenesis. Nature 481:463

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bracco D, Ferrarra J-M, Arnaud MJ, Jequier E, Schutz Y (1995) Effects of caffeine on energy metabolism, heart rate, and methylxanthine metabolism in lean and obese women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 269:E671–E678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butt MS, Ahmad RS, Sultan MT, Qayyum MMN, Naz A (2015) Green tea and anticancer perspectives: updates from last decade. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 55:792–805

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera C, Artacho R, Giménez R (2006) Beneficial effects of green tea—a review. J Am Coll Nutr 25:79–99

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen I-J, Liu C-Y, Chiu J-P, Hsu C-H (2016) Therapeutic effect of high-dose green tea extract on weight reduction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin Nutr 35:592–599

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha CA et al (2013) Green tea extract supplementation induces the lipolytic pathway, attenuates obesity, and reduces low-grade inflammation in mice fed a high-fat diet. Mediator Inflam 2013:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Dehghan M, Merchant AT (2008) Is bioelectrical impedance accurate for use in large epidemiological studies? Nutr J 7:26

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Deurenberg P (1996) Limitations of the bioelectrical impedance method for the assessment of body fat in severe obesity. Am J Clin Nutr 64:449S–452S

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haghighatdoost F, Nobakht M, Gh BF, Hariri M (2017) Effect of green tea on plasma adiponectin levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. J Am Coll Nutr 36:541–548

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamer M (2007) The beneficial effects of tea on immune function and inflammation: a review of evidence from in vitro, animal, and human research. Nutr Res 27:373–379

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haramizu S, Ota N, Hase T, Murase T (2011) Catechins attenuate eccentric exercise-induced inflammation and loss of force production in muscle in senescence-accelerated mice. J Appl Physiol 111:1654–1663

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hecksteden A et al (2013) Irisin and exercise training in humans–results from a randomized controlled training trial. BMC Med 11:235

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson AB, Randell RK, Boon N, Garczarek U, Mela DJ, Jeukendrup AE, Jacobs DM (2013) Metabolic response to green tea extract during rest and moderate-intensity exercise. J Nutr Biochem 24:325–334

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu C-H, Tsai T-H, Kao Y-H, Hwang K-C, Tseng T-Y, Chou P (2008) Effect of green tea extract on obese women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin Nutr 27:363–370

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huh JY, Panagiotou G, Mougios V, Brinkoetter M, Vamvini MT, Schneider BE, Mantzoros CS (2012) FNDC5 and irisin in humans: I. Predictors of circulating concentrations in serum and plasma and II. mRNA expression and circulating concentrations in response to weight loss and exercise. Metabolism 61:1725–1738

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jo H-S, Baek Y-H (2006) Effects of combined exercise and green tea intake on body weight and adiponectin obese high school female. J Life Sci 16:972–977

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly DP (2012) Irisin, light my fire. Science 336:42–43

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-S, Quon MJ, Kim J-A (2014) New insights into the mechanisms of polyphenols beyond antioxidant properties; lessons from the green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin 3-gallate. Redox Biol 2:187–195

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Korkmaz A et al (2019) Plasma irisin is increased following 12 weeks of Nordic walking and associates with glucose homoeostasis in overweight/obese men with impaired glucose regulation. Eur J Sport Sci 19:258–266

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liang R et al (2011) Green tea extract ameliorates reperfusion injury to rat livers after warm ischemia in a dose-dependent manner. Mol Nutr Food Res 55:855–863

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazur-Biały A, Bilski J, Pocheć E, Brzozowski T (2017) New insight into the direct anti-inflammatory activity of a myokine irisin against proinflammatory activation of adipocytes: implication for exercise in obesity. J Physiol Pharmacol 68:2–10

    Google Scholar 

  • McKay DL, Blumberg JB (2007) Roles for epigallocatechin gallate in cardiovascular disease and obesity: an introduction. J Am Coll Nutr 26:362S–365S

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mirzaei K, Hossein-Nezhad A, Karimi M, Hosseinzadeh-Attar M, Jafari N, Najmafshar A, Larijani B (2015) Effect of green tea extract on bone turnover markers in type 2 diabetic patients; a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial study DARU. J Pharm Sci 1: 38–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Murase T, Haramizu S, Shimotoyodome A, Tokimitsu I, Hase T (2006) Green tea extract improves running endurance in mice by stimulating lipid utilization during exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Compar Physiol 290:R1550–R1556

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norheim F et al (2014) The effects of acute and chronic exercise on PGC-1α, irisin and browning of subcutaneous adipose tissue in humans. FEBS J 281:739–749

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’brien C, Young A, Sawka M (2002) Bioelectrical impedance to estimate changes in hydration status. Int J Sports Med 23:361–366

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pescatello LS, Riebe D, Thompson PD (2013) ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Phung OJ, Baker WL, Matthews LJ, Lanosa M, Thorne A, Coleman CI (2009) Effect of green tea catechins with or without caffeine on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 91:73–81

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Racil G, Ounis OB, Hammouda O, Kallel A, Zouhal H, Chamari K, Amri M (2013) Effects of high vs. moderate exercise intensity during interval training on lipids and adiponectin levels in obese young females. Eur J Appl Physiol 113:2531–2540

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rains TM, Agarwal S, Maki KC (2011) Antiobesity effects of green tea catechins: a mechanistic review. J Nutr Biochem 22:1–7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts JD, Roberts MG, Tarpey MD, Weekes JC, Thomas CH (2015) The effect of a decaffeinated green tea extract formula on fat oxidation, body composition and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 12:1

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha A, Bolin AP, Cardoso CAL, Otton R (2016) Green tea extract activates AMPK and ameliorates white adipose tissue metabolic dysfunction induced by obesity. Eur J Nutr 55:2231–2244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rokling-Andersen MH et al (2007) Effects of long-term exercise and diet intervention on plasma adipokine concentrations. Am J Clin Nutr 86:1293–1301

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryu O et al (2006) Effects of green tea consumption on inflammation, insulin resistance and pulse wave velocity in type 2 diabetes patients. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 71:356–358

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sang S, Lambert JD, Ho C-T, Yang CS (2011) The chemistry and biotransformation of tea constituents. Pharmacol Res 64:87–99

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shimada M, Mochizuki K, Sakurai N, Goda T (2007) Dietary supplementation with epigallocatechin gallate elevates levels of circulating adiponectin in non-obese type-2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 71:2079–2082

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Akhtar N, Haqqi TM (2010) Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechi3-gallate: inflammation and arthritis. Life Sci 86:907–918

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Surh Y-J, Chun K-S, Cha H-H, Han SS, Keum Y-S, Park K-K, Lee SS (2001) Molecular mechanisms underlying chemopreventive activities of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals: down-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS through suppression of NF-κB activation. Mut Res Fund Mol Mech Mutagen 480:243–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Taghian F (2018) The impact of intensity interval training and supplementation of green tea on serum levels of irisin, insulin resistance in obese women with type 2 diabetes. Iran J Diabetes Metab 17:307–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM (2016) Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics, dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: nutrition and athletic performance. J Acad Nutr Diet 116:501–528

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Timmons JA, Baar K, Davidsen PK, Atherton PJ (2012) Is irisin a human exercise gene? Nature 488:E9

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu CH, Lu FH, Chang CS, Chang TC, Wang RH, Chang CJ (2003) Relationship among habitual tea consumption, percent body fat, and body fat distribution. Obes Res 11:1088–1095

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yau SY et al (2014) Physical exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis and antidepressant effects are mediated by the adipocyte hormone adiponectin. Proc Natl Acad Sci 111:15810–15815

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the participants in this research project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Reza Bagheri

  2. Department of Exercise Physiology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Amir Rashidlamir & Mohamad S. Motevalli

  3. Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Damoon Ashtary-Larky

  4. Department of Health and Human Performance, Marymount University, Arlington, VA, USA

    Alexei Wong

  5. Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA

    Brandon Grubbs

  6. Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong,, Hong Kong

    Julien S. Baker

  7. Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ismail Laher

  8. Univ Rennes, M2S (Laboratoire Mouvement, Sport, Santé) - EA 1274, 35000, Rennes, France

    Hassane Zouhal

Authors
  1. Reza Bagheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amir Rashidlamir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Damoon Ashtary-Larky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alexei Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Brandon Grubbs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mohamad S. Motevalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Julien S. Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ismail Laher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Hassane Zouhal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

RB, AR and HZ conceived and designed research. AR provided essential reagents. RB and DAL conducted experiments. AW contributed new reagents or analytical tools. AW and MSM analyzed data. RB and DAL wrote the manuscript. BG, JSB, IL and HZ revised the manuscript. AR and HZ had primary responsibility for final content. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Amir Rashidlamir or Hassane Zouhal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Philip D Chilibeck.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bagheri, R., Rashidlamir, A., Ashtary-Larky, D. et al. Effects of green tea extract supplementation and endurance training on irisin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adiponectin concentrations in overweight middle-aged men. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 915–923 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04332-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04332-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation