Impact of an Eight-Week Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Training Program, Combined With Supplementation of the Aqueous Extract of Cynodon dactylon, on Hemorheological Indices in Young Non-athletic Men

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in developing countries and hemorheological indices are the main factors in developing these diseases.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of eight weeks of moderate intensity aerobic training combined with supplementation of aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon L. Pers on hemorheological parameters in non-athletic young men.

A total of 40 young non-athletes (with a mean age of 35.63±6.43 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 23.55±2.13 kg/m2 ) were randomly assigned to one of four groups, including control (C), aerobic exercise (E), the C. dactylon extract (CD), and aerobic exercise+C. dactylon extract (E+CD). Changes in fibrinogen, blood and plasma viscosity, and hematocrit were measured at two stages (baseline and 24 hours after the intervention ended).

The blood fibrinogen level in three groups of E, CD, and E+CD showed a significant decline compared to the baseline status (P<0.05). Additionally, there were significant decreases in blood viscosity levels in groups E (P=0.006), CD (P=0.048), and E+CD (P=0.001) after eight weeks of intervention. The plasma viscosity also showed a significant reduction only in group E after eight weeks of intervention (P=0.004). Moreover, hematocrit level significantly decreased in group E+CD (P=0.018).

The findings of this study suggest that eight weeks of moderate intensity aerobic exercises alone and in combination with the consumption of the aqueous extract of C. dactylon L. Pers could improve hemorheological indices and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.