The Effect of 6 Weeks of High Intensity Interval Training with Fenugreek Supplementation on Lipid Profile and Body Composition Indices in Overweight and Obese Women

Obesity as a global challenge is caused by positive energy balance. Increasing the intensity of physical activity is related to reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and probably for this reason, it leads to the improvement of blood lipoproteins. Also, in recent years, special attention has been paid to the role of various plants in reducing blood fats and thus reducing obesity-related diseases. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the effect of 6 weeks of intense interval training with fenugreek supplement on lipid profile and body composition indices of overweight and obese women.

The present semi-experimental study was conducted in Birjand, Iran, in 2019. Forty-eight obese and overweight women with an average age of 29.79±7.8 years and a body mass index of 29.29±2.6 kg/m2 were purposefully selected and randomly divided into 4 groups of 12 including; The groups of exercise + placebo, exercise + supplement, supplement and placebo were placed. The exercise groups performed three sessions of intense interval training protocol (shuttle run) at maximum speed during 6 weeks and every week. Blood sampling was done 48 hours before and 48 hours after the training period and taking supplements. The collected data were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk, covariance and post-hoc Scheffé statistical tests.

Research findings indicated a significant decrease in TG, in the groups of exercise (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.003) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant decrease TC in exercise groups (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.001), exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant reduction of LDL in exercise groups (p=0.001) p), supplement (p=0.002) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), significant weight loss in the groups of exercise (p=0.0001), supplement (p=0.007) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001), fat percentage in exercise groups (p=0.0001), supplement (p=0.0001) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001) and BMI in the group exercise (p=0.001), supplement (p=0.001) and exercise + supplement (p=0.0001) and no significant change in HDL (p=0.18) and WHR (0.78) were observed.

According to the results of the present study, it appeared that HIIT exercise along with the consumption of fenugreek supplement could be effective in preventing the occurrence of some diseases related to obesity.