The Effect of Pilates Training along with Saffron Consumption on Body Composition of Female

Nutrition and exercise are two factors affecting weight control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of selected Pilates trainings with saffron consumption on body composition of female.

In this quasi- experimental study, 32 nonathlete female volunteers were divided into four groups of eight based on body weight, including 1) training, 2) saffron, 3) training + saffron and 4) placebo. Groups 1 and 3 performed Pilates trainings for 3 sessions per week. Each session lasted 60 minutes. Groups 2 and 3 consumed capsules containing 30 mg of saffron daily, and groups 4 received capsules containing placebo for 8 weeks. In the pre- test and 72 hours after the last training session and saffron consumption, the body composition of the subjects was measured using the BOCA X1 body composition device made in South Korea. To analyze the data, Shapiro- Wilk test, one-way ANOVA test with Tukey’s post- hoc test were used (P≤0.05).

Pilates training, saffron consumption and Pilates training with saffron consumption had a significant effect on reducing the percentage of fat mass, increasing the percentage of total body fluid and the percentage of lean body mass (P=0.001). Also Pilates training with saffron consumption compared to consumption of saffron had a favorable effect on reducing the percentage of body fat mass (P=0.01) and increasing the percentage of total body fluid (P=0.009).

Although Pilates training and saffron consumption alone improve body composition, it seems that Pilates training combined with saffron consumption has more favorable effects than saffron.