The Effect of Combined Training (Endurance- Resistance) and Ginger Supplementation on Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Body Composition and Insulin Resistance among Obese Females with Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus, as a metabolic disease, is associated with impaired insulin resistance index and cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a concurrent exercise and Ginger supplementation on cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, and insulin resistance index in obese women with type 2 diabetes.

60 women with type 2 diabetes, which had medical records in 2016 in Sabzevar Diabetes Association Centre, were selected with convenient sampling (age: 49.2±5.5 years, BMI: 30.98±3.01 kg/m2) and randomly divided into four groups: Concurrent training groups of high-intensity (resistance training: 75 to 85% of 1RM and endurance training: 70 to 85% HRmax) with Ginger supplementation or placebo, Concurrent training groups of moderate intensity (resistance training: 50 to 74% of 1RM and endurance training: 50 to 70% of HRmax) with Ginger supplementation or  placebo. In supplementation groups, the volunteers were recieved daily 800 mg capsules of Ginger Rhizome powder and in placebo groups, a capsule containing Wheat flour twice daily. 24 hours before training and also after 12 weeks, lipid indices (LDL, HDL, TG and Chol), biochemical indices (insulin, glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin), body composition, and cardiorespiratory endurance were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test at significance level of p<0.05.

The results showed that in all training groups, the indices of body composition, lipid and cardio-respiratory endurance were significantly improved (p<0.05); However, there was no significant difference between groups (p<0.05). Insulin resistance was significantly decreased in the high intensity training group+placebo and the moderate intensity training group+supplement compared to the high intensity training group+supplement (p<0.05). Hemoglobin glycosylated levels in the high intensity training group+placebo and the moderate intensity training group+placebo were lower than the moderate intensity training group+supplement (p<0.05). The levels of glucose in high intensity training group with and without supplement and the moderate intensity training group+placebo were significantly decreased compared to the moderate intensity training group+supplement (p<0.05).

It seems that the exercise with both intensity compared with supplementation had an optimal effect on the improvement of indices of cardio-respiratory endurance, body composition, lipid and some glycemic indices, though the moderate intensity training+supplementation was more effective than other groups in improving insulin sensitivity. Therefore, the study of synergistic effects of exercise and supplementation on improvement of the aformentioned indices requires more emphasis on detailed in the future.