Effect of 8-week combined training (endurance, strength) with flaxseed consumption on insulin resistance and blood pressure in postmenopausal women

Menopause is natural phenomenon and it is a stage of a woman's life in which, the menstruation period ends as a result of the reduction of the ovaries activity and the lack of estrogen. Since blood pressure and insulin resistance is a major problem in older women, The purpose of this study would be studying the effect of combined training with and without consuming the flaxseed on the Insulin resistance and blood pressure of postmenopausal women.

This quasi-experimental study,27postmenopausal women with the age group of 50 to 60 years old and the BMI equal to 25 to30kg/m2, were selected using the available sampling method. Then they were randomly divided into two groups called the combined training(12people)and the combined training plus flaxseed(15people).The aerobic exercise was performed with the intensity of 60to80 percent of the maximal heart rate and the resistance exercise with the intensity of60to80 percent of a maximal repetition .complementary was given by using25 gr of the milled flaxseed. The blood samples were collected for measuring insulin resistance and analyzed using SPSS software and Independent and independent t test, respectively, to compare intra-group and inter-group differences at a significant level of P <0.05.

The results indicated that eight weeks of combined training with flaxseed consumption caused an increase maximal oxygen consumption(p=0.001),decrease in BMI(p=0.001)and reduce blood pressure(p=0.001),Combined exercise alone significantly decreased BMI(p=0.001)and decreased blood pressure(p= 0.001).

It seems that eight weeks of combined training alone and with flaxseed consumption can improve aerobic fitness, body composition and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.