The effect of eight weeks Pilates training and JuJube extract consumption on metabolic syndromeparameters in middle-aged women

Metabolic syndrome includes a set of risk factors that increase the probability of cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity and proper nutrition are an effective way to reduce the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. The aim of the current research was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates training and jujube extract consumption on the indicators of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged women.

40 middle-aged postmenopausal women were randomly divided into Pilates exercise groups, jujube extract, Pilates exercise group with jujube extract, and control group. In the groups that consumed jujube extract, jujube powder was consumed daily at 200 mg per kilogram of body weight along with a glass of water for eight weeks. The exercise program included Pilates exercises for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The intra-group difference was evaluated by dependent t method and the inter-group difference was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance. The significance level was considered to be a=0.05.

In the group of Pilates exercises and consumption of jujube extract, LDL (P=0.005), HDL (P=0.001), TG (P=0.002), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.02) and waist circumference (P=0.001) had a significant decrease, while fasting blood sugar (P=0.06), TC (P=0.08) and systolic blood pressure (P=0.1) did not change significantly.

In general, it seems that eight weeks of Pilates training with the consumption of jujube extract has a positive effect on reducing waist size, improving blood pressure and some indicators of metabolic syndrome.