Research
Hormonal
Skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ by synthesizing and secreting myokines (e.g., IL-6, irisin, BDNF) in response to contraction, which exert beneficial effects on remote organs and systemic metabolism.
View exercise as a hormonal therapy, not just calorie burning. When you contract your muscles, they release signaling molecules (myokines) that improve metabolism, brain health, and inflammation. Consistent movement is required to maintain this endocrine function.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Skeletal muscle synthesizes and secretes multiple factors, and these muscle-derived factors, so-called as myokines, exert beneficial effects on peripheral and remote organs.
Why this rating
The paper is a review summarizing various studies; it cites in vitro data and animal models, with some human data noted as controversial (e.g., irisin).
Source
Skeletal Muscle Is an Endocrine Organ
Kenji Iizuka et al. · Journal of Pharmacological Sciences · 2014
DOI 10.1254/jphs.14r02cp
narrative_reviewCited 191×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Exercise-induced secretion of myokines like IL-6 and BDNF mediates anti-inflammatory responses and improves glucose metabolism and fat oxidation.Moderate
- Myostatin acts as a negative regulator of muscle growth, and its inhibition is a therapeutic target for muscle disorders and metabolic diseases.Moderate
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →