Comparative Impact of Various Exercises on Circulating Irisin in Healthy Subjects: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Irisin is a myokine that is secreted from skeletal muscle during exercise and increases lipid metabolism, converting white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue. Recent studies have shown conflicting results in relation to chronic and acute exercise and irisin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chronic and acute exercise training on circulating (plasma/serum) irisin level in healthy subjects. We conducted a search of Cochrane Library, PubMed, ISI, Scopus, Embase, and Pedro up to September 2021. A random effects network meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled estimate of standardized mean difference (SMD) for acute and chronic exercise effects on irisin level, using Hedge's g statistic. Of the 16 studies included, six were acute exercise studies (175 participants). The aerobic (Hedge's g = 0.23; 95% CI: -0.58, 1.03) and the anaerobic exercises (Hedge's g = 0.12; 95% CI: -0.45, 0.70) were associated with the increased level of irisin, compared to the control. In the ten chronic exercise studies (433 participants), the resistance training was superior to anaerobic and aerobic training (P score = 0.632). However, comparing acute and chronic exercise studies, acute training showed the most excellent potential as the best treatment to improve the irisin level (P score = 0.721). This network meta-analysis showed that acute aerobic exercise has a more effect on irisin levels than acute anaerobic exercise. Also, chronic resistance training has the greatest additive effect on irisin levels compared to chronic aerobic and anaerobic training.