[ comparison of the effects of Ramadan fasting and regular aerobic exercise on 70-Kda heat shock protein [Hsp70], lipid profiles and resistance insulin in non-active obese men]

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was compare the effects of fasting during Ramadan [as a dietary pattern] and regular aerobic exercise on HSP70, lipid profile and insulin resistance indexes in non-active obese men. In this study, 18 obese men, aged between 50-40 years, with a BMI over 30 kg/m[2] per square meter were randomly selected from among 70 volunteers responding to a public call. They were then divided into two, the fasting [N=9] and the fasting with exercise [N=9] groups. While the first group just fasted, the fasting and exercise group in addition to fasting performed 27 sessions of exercise at an intensity of 50-70% of their VO2max. Also, to study the desired changes in Ramadan, blood samples were taken at four different times points and finally, using repeated measures analysis of variance at the significance level of p<0.05, data was analyzed. Results showed that HSP70 levels in both groups increased during Ramadan. Also, HSP70 levels in both the fasting and the fasting with exercise groups increased, during the fourth week of Ramadan, the difference between the groups being significant [F=23.25; p=0.001]. Insulin resistance also decreased in both groups, a reduction that was significant in the fasting group [F=3.244; p=0.042]. Additionally, only in the fourth week of Ramadan and two weeks after that the lipid profile of the participants decreased and their HDL-C increased, changes all significant [p<0.05]. The research results show that the increased levels of HSP70 as a result of fasting perse, and fasting with exercise, may lead to decreased insulin resistance in obese men