Effect of eight weeks of combined training exercise with and without pomegranate concentrate consumption on metabolic syndrome indexes in obese and overweight middle-aged women

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes type II. The prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is increasing in most parts of the world especially developing countries and this is an important factor for increased mortality and morbidity and complications and prevalence in the whole world. This study was performed with aim to investigate the effects of eight weeks of combined training exercise with and without pomegranate concentrate consumption on metabolic syndrome indexes in middle-aged obese and overweight women.
This semi-experimental practical study was performed on 24 middle-aged obese and overweight women at Mashhad in 2015. They were randomly divided into two groups of combined exercise (E) and combined exercise with pomegranate concentrate consumption (EPC) and each group consisted of 12 cases. The aerobic exercise was conducted with 60-80% an intensity of Maximal Heart Rate (HRmax), and resistance exercise and working with weights with intensity of 60-80% of One Repetition Maximal (1-RM) were performed. Blood samples were collected for the measurement of glucose, insulin and insulin resistance 24 hours before exercise and 48 hours after the last training session. Data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 20) by Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, dependent and independent t-test. P ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Maximum amount of oxygen consumed (VO2max) was increased significantly in both E and EPC groups (P0.05). However, insulin resistance showed a significant decrease in both groups (E and EPC) (P 0.05).
Eight weeks of combined exercise (aerobic and resistance) with pomegranate concentrate can significantly affect glucose, insulin and insulin resistance levels, so can be useful in improved metabolic syndrome indexes and cardiovascular and respiratory endurance.