Effects of 8-weeks cinnamon intake with and without high intensity interval training on blood lipids profile in overweight girls of aged-high school

Obesity and overweight are among the most common complications among high school students, which can be associated with cardiovascular diseases. Modifying the lifestyle through sports activities and herbal medicines is one of the solutions to combat this problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an 8-week cinnamon consumption with and without high-intensity interval training on blood lipid profiles in high school-aged overweight girls.

In this semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design, 36 overweight women aged 15-18 years were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups: intense interval training (n=12), cinnamon supplementation (n=12) and intense interval training+cinnamon (n=12). The intense interval training program was conducted three times a week for 8 weeks in the two intervention groups. Each session, lasting 30-35 minutes, involved high-intensity exercises at 90-95% of peak oxygen consumption. Diet groups received cinnamon supplements at the rate of 6 grams/day for a period of 8 weeks. Body measurements (weight, body mass index) and serum levels of blood fats (cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein) were measured before and after the study. The data were analyzed using the dependent t-test and analysis of covariance at a level less than 0.05.

After 8 weeks of intervention, a significant decrease in body weight and body mass index and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol were observed in the intense interval training and intense interval training + cinnamon groups compared to the cinnamon alone group (p≤0.05). However, Bonferroni's follow-up test did not show significant differences in cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels between the groups (p≥0.05).

High-intensity intermittent exercise with cinnamon consumption can reduce body composition and some blood lipids more effectively than cinnamon supplementation in overweight high school girls.