THE EFFECT OF AN EIGHT-WEEK AEROBIC TRAINING PLUS A SUPPLEMENT OF PORTULACA OLERACEA SEED ON METABOLIC SYNDROME FACTORS IN MIDDLE-AGED MEN WITH DIABETES TYPE 2 ON THE THRESHOLD OF OBESITY

Diabetes and obesity are among the main problems of societies, and the main preventable causes of death all over the world. Also, type 2 diabetes is more common in obese people, and obesity itself causes some degree of insulin resistance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an eight-week aerobic training plus a supplement of Portulaca Oleracea seed on metabolic syndrome factors in middle-aged men with Diabetes Type 2 on the threshold of obesity.

In this experimental study, 40 male patients with type 2 diabetes with an average age of 40-65 and BMI between 28 and 30, were selected and then randomly placed into four groups of control (10 people), exercise + placebo (10 people), supplement (10 people), and exercise + supplement (10 people). Lack of a history of regular sports activity and lack of consumption of Portulaca oleracea plant (for the previous 6 months) were controlled. Also, people who had chronic cardiovascular diseases or chronic inflammation, diabetic foot ulcers and hepatitis, as well as people who took vitamin supplements and smoked, were excluded from the study. The training groups had 3 training sessions per week, in the first week, each session lasted for 30 minutes, and in the eighth week, it was changed to 45 minutes of walking without rest with an intensity equal to 50 to 70% of the maximum reserve heart rate. Supplemental groups consumed 5.7 grams of purslane capsules after lunch and dinner daily. The control group was not subjected to any training or supplements during the 8 weeks. Correlated t-test was used to examine intra-group differences, and analysis of covariance was used to examine inter-group differences at a significant level of P<0.05 using SPSS version 26 software.

The results of covariance analysis showed a significant difference in lipid profile values and fasting sugar levels in the three experimental groups compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Probably, the consumption of Portulaca oleracea seed supplement and aerobic exercise improves the lipid profile and fasting sugar in middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended for middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes on the verge of obesity to take purslane seed supplement and aerobic exercise.