Antidiabetic effects of aerobic exercise and bitter melon powder supplementation in type 2 diabetic females

Background: The process of diabetes control involves a mixture of dietary, pharmacological and physical exercise interventions as therapeutic methods

However there is a considerable risk of hypoglycemia incidence with synchronized supplementation of bitter melon and physical exercise and also the antihyperlipidemic effects of bitter melon was not fully elucidated

Objective: The aim was to investigate the synchronized effects of aerobic training and bitter melon powder supplementation on metabolic control in type II diabetic female patients [Age: 56.89+/-7.48 yrs. Weight: 78.75+/-5.56 kg and Height: 164.54+/-6.71 cm]

Methods: Following to baseline FBS, 2hpp, HbAlc [A[1c]], HDL, LDL, TG and TC measurements, the subject were randomized into four groups [N=12]

Control, Bitter melon, Exercise and Bitter melon-Exercise

The Bitter melon and Control groups received supplement/placebo containing capsules for eight weeks [three meals per day] with dosage of eight mg/kg.bw in a double blind order

The Exercise groups were run on a treadmill at moderate intensity, three sessions per week during this period

Results: Fasting glucose was decreased in Bitter melon, Exercise and Bitter melon-Exercise groups [P<0.05], however there were no between group differences in the amount of deceases [P>0.05]. AIC was also decreased in these three groups with sharp decreases in Bitter melon-Exercise group [P<0.05]

The 2hpp, HDL, LDL, TG and TC levels were only decreased in Exercise groups [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Bitter melon supplementation along with exercise training in accompany with other therapeutic proceedings, could provide sharper decreases in AJC level in well controlled patients as the most important index for diabetes control. However; the merely supplementation with bitter melon has no significant effect on blood lipids

[ effect of creatine monohydrate loading on downhill running-induced inflammatory response in elite male mountaineers]

In regard to the limited studies about the effect of creatine on exercise-induced inflammatory responses, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of creatine monohydrate loading on response of serum C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and peripheral blood leucocytes following one bout downhill running in male mountain climbers. Twenty volunteer young male mountain climbers [aged 24.5 +/- 1.82 year, fat = 10.42 +/- 1.96%, and VO2max = 53.56 +/- 2.36 ml/kg/min] in a quasi-experimental, randomized and double-blind design were allocated equally into supplement and placebo groups. After five consecutive days supplementation [0.3 g/kg body weight/day creatine monohydrate or dextrose], all subjects were participated in one bout downhill running protocol on a treadmill [-15% incline] for 30 minutes with 65% heart rate reserve [HRR]. Changes in inflammatory indices were determined in four phases [baseline, after the supplement period, immediately and 24 hours after the exercise]. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, Bonferroni and independent t-test at alpha

Effect of concurrent creatine monohydrate ingestion and resistance training on hepatic enzymes activity levels in non-athlete males

The use of creatine [Cr] as a nutritional supplement to aid athletic performance has gained widespread popularity among athletes. However, concerns have recently been expressed over the potentially harmful effects of short and long term Cr supplementation on health.] Therefore this study was conducted to determine effect of creatine monohydrate [CrM] ingestion and resistance training on serum Alanin Aminotransferase [ALT] and As part ate Aminotransferase [AST] changes in non-athlete males. Twenty non-athlete males [age 22.25 +/- 2.02yr, weight 71.55 +/- 4.72Kg and height 171.92 +/- 5.98 Cm] were selected and studied in two groups, the training-creatine [TC]: n=10, and the training-placebo [TP]: n=10, in a double-blind trial. Both groups participated in resistance training and completed two months of weight training [75% one repeat maximum]. The TC group consumed a 250 ml CrM solution supplement [0.07 g/kg/day, creatine] during the training protocol, while the control group just placebos [0.07 g/kg/day, wheat flour]. Venous blood samples were obtained before and 48h after the last session and serum ALT and AST activities were measured using the auto-analyzer system. Data was statistically analyzed by dependent and independed t-test, with a 0.05 significance level. There were no significant differences in serum ALT and AST activity between the TC [ALT, P<0.102; AST, P<0.086] and TP groups [ALT, P<0.265; AST, P<0.009]. Nor were any significant differences observed in mean and changes range for ALT and AST activities between the TC and TP groups. The results suggest that two months resistance training and CrM ingestion had no adverse effects on hepatic cellular damage idices. However, more research is needed to identify the side effects of acute and chronic CrM ingestion and resistance training