Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk
Journal of Eexercise & Organ Cross Talk

Effects of concurrent training and fenugreek supplementation on myokines and lipid profiles in overweight women

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sadegh Abdollahi 1
Elham Dehghan 1
Mohadeseh Bandarrigi 2
Somayeh Moradi 3

1 1Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran

2 Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran

10.22122/jeoct.2026.527163.1156
Abstract
Exercise induced myokines play an important role in metabolic regulation and inter organ communication. This study investigated the effects of concurrent training and fenugreek supplementation, separately and in combination, on circulating myokines and lipid profile in overweight women. Forty overweight women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to four groups: concurrent training (CT), fenugreek supplementation (FG), combined concurrent training plus fenugreek (CT+FG), and control (CON). The intervention lasted 6 weeks (3 sessions per week). The concurrent training protocol consisted of circuit based resistance exercises (50–70% 1RM) followed by aerobic training at 55–70% HRmax. Participants in the supplementation groups consumed fenugreek extract capsules (670 mg/day; two 335 mg capsules taken after breakfast and dinner). Fasting blood samples were collected before the intervention and 48 hours after the final training session. Concurrent training significantly improved lipid profile by reducing triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) and increasing high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p < 0.05). Training interventions also significantly increased circulating irisin and myonectin levels (p < 0.05). Fenugreek supplementation alone improved HDL levels but showed no significant effect on myokine concentrations. The combined CT+FG group demonstrated the greatest improvements in lipid profile and myokine responses compared with the other groups. Concurrent training appears to be an effective strategy for improving lipid profile and increasing circulating myokines in overweight women. Fenugreek supplementation may provide additional benefits for lipid profile when combined with exercise; however, its direct effects on myokines remain unclear. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to clarify the potential synergistic effects of exercise and fenugreek supplementation.

What is already known on this subject?

Obesity or overweight, a chronic metabolic disease, is considered one of the main challenges of public health worldwide.

 

What this study adds?

The combination of concurrent training and fenugreek supplementation was associated with greater improvements in lipid profile variables compared with training alone.

Keywords

Concurrent training
Fenugreek
Irisin
Myonectin
Lipid profile
Overweight
Subjects

Acknowledgements

The researchers are grateful to all the participants who cooperated during the current research period. 

Funding

None.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in the present research.

Ethical approval All of the ethical principles of the current study were reviewed by the ethics committee of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences and approved with the special code of IR.BPUMS.REC.1403.045.

Informed consent Perfotmed. 

Author contributions 

Conceptualization: S.A.,; Methodology: E.D.,; Software: M.B.,; Validation: S.M.,; Formal analysis: S.A.,; Investigation: E.D., M.B; Resources: S.A.,; Data curation: E.D.,; Writing -original draft: S.M.,; Writing–review & editing: E.D.,; Visualization: M.B.,; Supervision: S.A.; Project administration: E.D.; Funding acquisition: M.B..

 

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Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 December 2026

  • Receive Date 30 May 2025
  • Revise Date 02 September 2026
  • Accept Date 04 September 2026

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