Aerobic exercise in cold weather may affect metabolic diseases and bone‐cartilage formation by increasing CTRP‐3 levels

Abstract

Aerobic exercise is recommended by clinicians in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise in cold weather on CTRP‐3 levels and its potential implications for metabolic diseases. Twenty‐seven healthy young individuals (age = 22.1 ± 1.7 years, BMI = 22.2 ± 1.3, and n = 27; 13 female and 14 male) voluntarily participated in this study. Participants performed 40 min aerobic running exercise at 0, 12, and 20°C environmental temperatures. Our study demonstrates that 40 min of aerobic exercise at temperatures of 0 and 12°C significantly increased CTRP‐3 levels in athletes, while no significant change was observed at 24°C. The main findings indicated significant differences between pre‐and post‐exercise CTRP‐3 values for 0°C (p = 0.001) and 12°C (p = 0.005) environmental temperature, whereas no significant difference was found at 24°C (p = 0.148). Additionally, two‐way ANOVA revealed that both the temperature (0, 12, and 24°C) and exercise (pre‐ and post‐) affect serum CTRP‐3 levels (p = 0.023). CTRP‐3 elevation from baseline to post‐exercise in the 0°C, 12°C, and 24°C were +23.4%, +10.6%, and +8.1%, respectively. These findings suggest that engaging in aerobic exercise in cold weather conditions may serve as an effective intervention against metabolic disorders, including diabetes and obesity. The significant increases in CTRP‐3 levels following aerobic exercise in cold weather conditions justify the need for further, more extensive studies to assess their potential impact on metabolic diseases, as well as cartilage and bone formation.