ABSTRACT
Introduction: The present study investigates the effects of 10 weeks of High Intensity Interval Training [HIIT] and ginger consumption on structural and functional cardiac adaptations in overweight women
Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental randomized, placebo controlled study, 24 overweight women aged 20-30 years, randomly divided into 3 groups of Ginger [n=8], HIIT+ginger [n=8] and HIIT+placebo [n=8], were followed for 10 weeks of HIIT [40m-maximal Shuttle run] and ginger consumption [3 gr of ginger supplement or placebo pills daily]
Results: Systolic Left Ventricular Dimensions [LVDs] increased in the HIIT+ginger [p=0.006] and HIIT+placebo [p=0.002] while stroke volume [SV] [p=0.019] and left atrium dimension [LA] [p=0.015] increased in the HIIT+ginger group. In addition, significant decreases of systolic blood pressure were seen in the HIIT+ginger [p=0.001] and the ginger [p=0.001] groups, and diastolic blood pressure attenuation in ginger [p=0.01] group only. However, no significant difference between groups in any variable was detected [p>0.05]
Conclusion: Either HIIT per se or with ginger, leads to modest improvements of structural and functional cardiac adaptations in overweight women, while, consumption of just ginger, attenuated systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No significant difference was observed between the effects of High Intensity Interval Training and ginger consumption on cardiac structural and functional adaptations