The Effect of Selected Aerobic Activities and Consumption of Omega-3 Supplementation on Plasma Concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in Elderly Obese Women

Obesity is considered a growing cause of cardiovascular diseases. The cellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules have been identified as the new inflammatory indicators of forecasting and predicting cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the effect of selected aerobic activities and consumption of omega-3 supplementation on plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in elderly obese women. In a double-blinded study, 40 obese women (BMI ≥ 30) 55 to 65 years old, were selected in a non-random and easily-accessible way and were randomly categorized into 4 groups of 10 individuals: exercise-placebo, exercise-supplements, supplements, and placebo. Subjects in the supplement groups consumed 2080 mg of omega-3 supplement for 8 weeks and placebo groups used sunflower oil produced in Zachariah Company, as placebo. Exercise program included aerobic exercise activities at 45 to 60 percent of maximum heart rate for 8 weeks, three 60-minute sessions per week. After 12 h fasting in the pre-test and 48 h fasting after the last training session, blood sampling was conducted. Data analysis included paired-t test and two-way ANOVA and was carried out using SPSS software (version 16). The obtained results showed that there was a significant interaction between exercise and supplements in reducing serum sICAM-1 factor, suggesting that sICAM- 1 reduction was both influenced by the separate effects of supplements and exercise, and the combined intervention of both exercise and supplements which had a synergistic effect on reducing the concentrations of this inflammatory factor. In addition, serum sVCAM-1 decreased significantly only in the exercise-supplement group (combined) (P < 0.05). Discussion and The results indicated that considering sensitivity and accuracy of new inflammatory indices, measuring these indicators could be useful in the diagnosis of inflammation and vascular disorders. Besides, regular aerobic exercise and omega-3 supplements are two effective and moderating factors reducing the level of adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) and inflammation