Combined effects of aerobic exercise and high-carbohydrate meal on plasma acylated ghrelin and levels of hunger

The present study investigated the effect of an aerobic exercise bout associated with a high-carbohydrate (CHO) meal on plasma levels of acylated ghrelin and hunger sensation. Eight healthy males performed an exercise (ET) and a control (CT) trial. In ET, participants performed a 60-min cycling exercise (similar to 70% of maximal oxygen uptake) after consuming a high-CHO meal. In the CT, participants remained at rest throughout the whole period after consuming the high-CHO meal. Hunger sensation was assessed and blood samples were taken to determine the levels of acylated ghrelin, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). There was suppression of hunger after consuming the meal in ET and CT (p = 0.028 and p = 0.011, respectively). Hunger increased in CT in the period correspondent to the exercise session (p = 0.017) and remained suppressed in the ET. The area under the curve for acylated ghrelin showed that its levels were lower in the ET compared with CT in the period of the exercise plus the immediate period (1 h) postexercise (60.7 vs. 96.75 pg.mL(-1).2 h(-1), respectively; p = 0.04). Inverse correlations between acylated ghrelin levels and insulin, TC, and TG levels at different time points were observed. In conclusion, these findings suggest that 1 bout of aerobic exercise maintains the meal-induced suppression of hunger. The mechanism underlying this effect may involve the exercise-induced suppression of acylated ghrelin. These results implicate that the combination of a high-CHO meal and aerobic exercise may effectively improve appetite control and body weight management.