Possible Effect of Pilates Exercises and Vitamin D on Renal Function Parameters in Overweight Men: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Obesity and vitamin D deficiency have been recognized as important risk factors for chronic kidney disease. The use of safe and low-risk non-pharmacological interventions is recommended to reduce and or prevent chronic diseases. The current study aimed to assess the effect of Pilates training and vitamin D on renal function parameters in overweight men.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 50 overweight men within the age range of 45-55 years. The participants were selected using convenience sampling and assigned to the groups of Pilates training, Pilates training+ vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D supplementation, and control groups. The Pilates training and Pilates training+ vitamin D supplementation groups performed Pilates programs for 8 weeks (with the intensity of 50-75% of reserve heart rate, 3sessions/week). vitamin D and Pilates training+ vitamin D groups also received 50000 units of oral vitamin D weekly. Blood urea, uric acid, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured before and after the interventions. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test, one way ANOVA, and Kruskal Wallis tests (p˂0.05).

As evidenced by the obtained results, 8 weeks of Pilates training, vitamin D intake, and the combined intervention were associated with a significant increase in GFR and a decrease in the urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels(P<0.05). Furthermore, the combined intervention brought more improvement to these variables, compared to the two other interventions (P˂0.05).

It seems that both vitamin D supplementation and Pilates training interventions may lead to an improvement in the renal function of overweight individuals with abnormal vitamin D status by increasing GFR and decreasing urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels. Nonetheless, the combined intervention is associated with stronger effects.