Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator that may increase in circulation following exercise. This study was undertaken to determine if changes to FGF21 post-exercise are dependent on biological sex and exercise modality. Secondary analyses were conducted to determine if the post...

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Main Authors: Matthew Peterson, Kathleen A Richardson, LesLee Funderburk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321738
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author Matthew Peterson
Kathleen A Richardson
LesLee Funderburk
author_facet Matthew Peterson
Kathleen A Richardson
LesLee Funderburk
author_sort Matthew Peterson
collection DOAJ
description Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator that may increase in circulation following exercise. This study was undertaken to determine if changes to FGF21 post-exercise are dependent on biological sex and exercise modality. Secondary analyses were conducted to determine if the post-exercise rise in FGF21 was associated with upstream signaling factors (glucagon, epinephrine, glucose) and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) response. Following a randomized crossover design, male and female participants completed two, thirty minute exercise protocols - during the steady state (SS) protocol, participants cycled at 70% of VO2peak and during the sprint interval exercise (IE) protocol participants completed six, thirty second "all out" sprints against 7.5% of body weight with four and half minutes of active recovery between sprints. Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately post-exercise (IPE), and 1-hour post-exercise. Oxygen consumption was monitored continuously throughout the trials. In males, FGF21 levels were increased at 1-hour post-exercise with no difference between conditions; in females, FGF21 levels were unchanged as a result of exercise. Comparison of the post-exercise FGF21 incremental area under the curve revealed that in the SS condition males had a greater FGF21 response than females and that within males the SS condition had a greater response than the IE condition. Exercise significantly increased FGF21 levels in males, but not in females. In males, FGF21 levels were greater in the SS condition than in the IE condition.
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spelling doaj-art-b4254b180e4e401ba8b125bb667fee5f2025-08-20T03:28:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01205e032173810.1371/journal.pone.0321738Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.Matthew PetersonKathleen A RichardsonLesLee FunderburkFibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator that may increase in circulation following exercise. This study was undertaken to determine if changes to FGF21 post-exercise are dependent on biological sex and exercise modality. Secondary analyses were conducted to determine if the post-exercise rise in FGF21 was associated with upstream signaling factors (glucagon, epinephrine, glucose) and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) response. Following a randomized crossover design, male and female participants completed two, thirty minute exercise protocols - during the steady state (SS) protocol, participants cycled at 70% of VO2peak and during the sprint interval exercise (IE) protocol participants completed six, thirty second "all out" sprints against 7.5% of body weight with four and half minutes of active recovery between sprints. Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately post-exercise (IPE), and 1-hour post-exercise. Oxygen consumption was monitored continuously throughout the trials. In males, FGF21 levels were increased at 1-hour post-exercise with no difference between conditions; in females, FGF21 levels were unchanged as a result of exercise. Comparison of the post-exercise FGF21 incremental area under the curve revealed that in the SS condition males had a greater FGF21 response than females and that within males the SS condition had a greater response than the IE condition. Exercise significantly increased FGF21 levels in males, but not in females. In males, FGF21 levels were greater in the SS condition than in the IE condition.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321738
spellingShingle Matthew Peterson
Kathleen A Richardson
LesLee Funderburk
Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
PLoS ONE
title Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
title_full Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
title_fullStr Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
title_full_unstemmed Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
title_short Effect of exercise on Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 levels in healthy males and females.
title_sort effect of exercise on fibroblast growth factor 21 levels in healthy males and females
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321738
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