Effects of the Portulaca oleracea supplement and high-intensity interval training on glycemic control and dislipidemia in obese female students

Portulaca oleracea has anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. High-intensity interval training (HITT) leads to weight loss by increasing fat oxidation in shorter duration. In the present study, the effects of Portulaca oleracea supplement and HITT on glycemic control and dyslipidemia in obese female students was evaluated.

In an experimental study, 42 obese female students (average age: 23 years and body mass index (BMI): 31.78 ± 1.47 kg/m2) were selected and divided into four groups: control, supplement, training, and supplement with training. Supplement included two capsules of 0.5 g of Portulaca oleracea per day and training included HIIT (with an intensity of 75-90% of maximum heart rate) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric indexes, plasma glucose and lipids were measured before and after the test. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA.

There was a significant difference between weight, BMI, glucose, triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in the four groups (P<0.05), so that weight, BMI, glucose, TG in three groups versus the control group decreased significantly and HDL-C increased significantly (P<0.05), and these changes were more in the supplement with training group than in the supplement and training groups alone. However, there was no significant difference between total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the four groups (P>0.05).

The concomitant consumption of Portulaca oleracea supplement and HIIT can have more effect on improved glycemic control and decreased dyslipidemia in obese female students than the consumption of supplement and HIIT alone.