Fat loss and muscle gain: The possible role of striatal dopaminergic tone in determining the efficacy of physical exercise

The effectiveness of exercise for obesity is contentious due to individual response variability. Owing to the roles of dopamine in motor functions, metabolism, and appetite, this study aimed to identify striatal dopamine as a predictor of variability in exercise response, specifically in terms of fat loss and muscle gain. Healthy non-exercising males completed an 8-week program, exercising 1 h, 4 days a week. Striatal dopaminergic tone was assessed by measuring dopamine transporter availability using technetium-99 m labelled tropane derivative, [99mTc]TRODAT-1 (TRODAT), single-photon emission computed tomography, and body composition (fat and muscles mass) was analysed using bioelectrical impedance. Lower baseline dopamine levels were associated with greater fat mass loss (r = 0.58, p = 0.006), percentage fat mass loss (r = 0.53, p = 0.013), and increase in muscle mass (β = -0.53, p = 0.035, after taking age and smoking status as covariates). These findings enhance our understanding of obesity neurobiology and exercise response variability, necessitating further research for targeted interventions based on dopaminergic profiles.