Effect of 8 Weeks of Resistance Exercise Combined with Shirazi Thyme Supplementation on Plasma Levels of INF-γ and TNF-alpha in Men With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver

 Resistance exercise and supplementation by Shirazi thyme has beneficial effects on inflammatory processes. The present study aims to assess the effect of 8 weeks of resistance exercise combined with Shirazi thyme supplementation on plasma levels of Interferon-gamma (INF-γ) and Tumor Necrosis Factor- alpha (TNF-α) in men with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD).

 This is a clinical trial with a quasi-experimental design. Participants were 60 non-athlete men with NAFLD selected using a convenience sampling method and divided into four groups of placebo (n=15), exercise (n=15), supplementation (n=15), and exercise + supplementation (n=15). The exercise program consisted of eight weeks of resistance exercise at 3 sessions per week with an intensity of 50-80% of one repetition maximum). For supplementation, a 20 mg soft capsule (Barij Gastrolith) was prescribed three times per day and half an hour before meals. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS software using one-way analysis of variance considering a significance level of 0.05.

 Resistance exercise (9.20±5.67), Shirazi thyme supplementation (8.36±4.80) and their combination (7.80±4.02) had no significant effect on INF-γ level (p≥0.05). Moreover, resistance exercise (4.56±1.69), Shirazi thyme supplementation (4.25±2.43) and their combination (5.21±2.22) had no significant effect on TNF-α level (p≥0.05).

 Resistance exercise alone, Shirazi thyme supplementation alone, or their combination cannot improve inflammatory markers of fatty liver in people with NAFLD. However, it requires further research.