Acute endurance exercise stimulates circulating levels of mitochondrial-derived peptides in humans.
von Walden F, Fernandez-Gonzalo R, Norrbom J et al. · Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) · PMID 34351816
Study summary
Main finding
Muscle and blood mitochondrial-peptide responses were measured after exercise; the reported human MOTS-c increase was a trend rather than a statistically significant result.
Human endurance, resistance, and control exercise groups
How the study was set up
Thirty people were assigned to endurance exercise, resistance exercise, or control, with blood and muscle samples before and after the session.
What the researchers measured
Circulating humanin and MOTS-c, muscle peptide levels, exercise-related genes, and fitness correlations were measured.
How to read this evidence
Researchers observed people or measured naturally occurring peptide levels. Associations do not show that administering the peptide caused a benefit.
Results in context
The clearest circulating increase was in humanin; MOTS-c showed a trend after endurance exercise. No peptide was administered, and the findings do not demonstrate a MOTS-c treatment effect.
What this does not establish
Participants were not given MOTS-c. An exercise-associated trend does not establish an effect of supplemental peptide.
Publication & source
Why this paper is included
A human exercise study measured endogenous MOTS-c; it did not administer MOTS-c.