Whole-body repeated hyperthermia increases irisin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor: A randomized controlled trial

•Hyperthermia is known to be beneficial to patients affected by various diseases.•Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) increases as response to acute and repeated exposure to hyperthermia.•Little is known about the effects of repeated exposure to hyperthermia on circulating Irisin, a known ‘cold-induced’ key regulator of fat cells metabolism.•Twenty healthy young participants were repeatedly exposed to both hyperthermia and light intensity exercise (ten weeks).•A 2-week (ten sessions) programme of WBPH increased both Irisin and circulating BDNF compared to sham hyperthermia exposure.