The Effect of high intensity interval training with nigella sativa supplementation on lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and body composition of overweight young women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training with Nigella Sativa supplementation on lipid profile, blood sugar and body composition of overweight young women.

The present study is in the form of a semi-experimental design in a double-blind on 48 overweight young women of NEISHABOUR city with a mean and standard deviation of age 36.41 ± 3.51 and body mass index of 28.704 ± 0.79. kg/m2. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups. Five people refused to continue cooperation due to some reasons and finally there were four groups including exercise and supplement (n=10), exercise and placebo (n=9), supplement (n=12) and placebo (n=12). Two exercise groups trained for six weeks, three sessions per week with an intensity of 85 to 95 percent of the maximum heart rate (HRmax). In addition to all of the groups consumed one oil capsule containing 1000 mg of Nigella Sativa or placebo (paraffin oil) before lunch daily. The Supplement and placebo group did not do any regular exercise. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken on two occasions, pre-test and post-test. Fasting blood samples were collected from brachial vein to evaluate lipid profile and blood sugar levels. In order to check the normality of the data distribution, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used. To analyze the data and report them, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests and SIDAK post hoc test were used at a significance level of 0.05.

The results of the present research did not show a significant difference between exercise and supplement, exercise and placebo groups compared to supplement and placebo groups after six weeks in total cholesterol (p=0.332), triglyceride (p=0.928), high-density lipoprotein (p=0.86), low density lipoprotein (p=0.393) and fasting blood sugar (p=0.054). The results of the SIDAK post hoc test showed that, in total, the measures taken in the experimental groups have led to a decrease in body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage. In terms of body mass index and body fat percentage, the exercise and placebo groups had better performance, and in terms of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, the supplement group had better performance, but these differences were not statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) and all experimental groups only had a better score body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body fat percentage indices compared to the control group (placebo) (P < 0.05).

It seems HIIT and Nigella Sativa supplementation, each one can be effective in improving the body composition of overweight young women. However, in this study, HIIT and Nigella Sativa supplementation did not have a significant effect on lipid profile and fasting blood sugar, so it is suggested that more research should be done.