Effects of additional exercise training on epicardial, intra-abdominal and subcutaneous adipose tissue in major depressive disorder: A randomized pilot study

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 192; pp. 91 - 97
• Main Authors: Kahl, K.G, Kerling, A, Tegtbur, U, Gützlaff, E, Herrmann, J, Borchert, L, Ates, Zeynep, Westhoff-Bleck, M, Hueper, K, Hartung, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-03-2016
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - physiology; Adult; Body Mass Index; Cardio-vascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Epicardial adipose tissue; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Intra-abdominal adipose tissue; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; metabolic syndrome; Middle Aged; Pericardium - physiology; Physical exercise; Pilot Projects; Psychiatry; Risk Factors; Subcutaneous Fat - physiology; metabolic syndrome; Physical exercise; Depression; Intra-abdominal adipose tissue; Cardio-vascular diseases; Epicardial adipose tissue
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.015

Abstract Objective Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased amounts of intra-abdominal and epicardial adipose tissue, risk factors for the development of cardio-metabolic disorders. Exercise has been shown to reduce intra-abdominal fat in different conditions such as obesity and diabetes mellitus, thereby reducing cardio-metabolic risks. Therefore we examined the effects of exercise on adipose tissue compartments in patients with MDD. Methods Of thirty depressed patients included, twenty received supervised exercise training, and ten received no specific training. Volumes of subcutaneous, intra-abdominal and epicardial adipose tissue were measured using magnetic resonance imaging, and factors constituting the metabolic syndrome were determined. Results Significant effects of the training condition were observed on the amount of epicardial adipose tissue ( P =0.017), subcutaneous adipose tissue ( P =0.023), weight ( P =0.047), body-mass index ( P =0.04), high density lipoproteins ( P =0.021) and the number of metabolic syndrome factors ( P =0.018). The amount of intra-abdominal adipose tissue decreased slightly, although not significantly, in the exercise group. Conclusion Exercise training reduces the amount of visceral, in particular epicardial adipose tissue, in patients with MDD, and ameliorates factors constituting the metabolic syndrome. Given the high prevalence of cardio-metabolic disorders in major depression, exercise training may be recommended as an additional treatment component.