The Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Fenugreek Supplementation on C-reactive Protein and Some Hematology Indices of Inactive Women

Tara  Zargham; Bahram  Abedi; Sajad  Arshadi

doi:10.18502/ijdl.v25i2.20221

Tara Zargham Department of Exercise Physiology, Physical Education faculty, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
Bahram Abedi Department of Physical Education, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Sajad Arshadi Department of Physical Education, ST.,C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdl.v25i2.20221

Keywords: Aerobic exercise, C-reactive protein, Fenugreek seeds, Red blood cells, White blood cells

Abstract

Background: Considering the negative effects of inactivity and increasing fat mass in inactive people, the aim of thisstudy was to investigate the effect of six weeks of aerobic exercise along with the consumption of fenugreek seedssupplementation on C-reactive protein and some blood parameters in inactive women.

Methods: 40 subjects were randomly assigned to 4 groups: exercise and fenugreek (n=10), exercise and placebo(n=10), fenugreek (n=10), placebo (n=10). Two exercise groups participated in the aerobic exercise program for 6weeks, 3 sessions per week, and each session lasted from 20 to 30 minutes. Subjects consumed 500 mg of fenugreekseeds or placebo (starch) daily after breakfast. The blood samples of the subjects were collected from the vein of theright hand of the subjects in a sitting position. In order to analyze the data, Shapiro-Wilk test, correlated t-test, andBenferroni's post hoc analysis of covariance test were used for natural data at the significance level of p<0.05.

Result: The results showed that aerobic exercise combined with fenugreek seeds supplementation had a decreasingeffect (p=0.001) on the response of C-reactive protein (CRP) in inactive women, and an increasing effect on theamount of platelets in inactive women (p=0.003). It had an increasing effect on the amount of red blood cells ininactive women (p=0.003) and a decreasing effect on the amount of white blood cells (p=0.03).

Conclusion: Aerobic training with fenugreek seeds leads to a decrease in C-reactive protein and a decrease in whiteblood cells and an increase in platelets and red blood cells. These changes reduce the inflammatory condition andincrease the immune system and better oxygen supply to the tissues and optimal metabolism of inactive women.