دکتر آرش صادقی

Exercise training and Zataria multiflora have a positive effect on health and can modulate cardiovascular risk factors. Adipose tissue-derived factors such as ANGPTL8 and adhesive molecules play an important role in exerting the pathological effects of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance-endurance exercise training combined with Zataria multiflora ingestion on the levels of ANGPTL8, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in sedentary overweight and obese men.

In this clinical trial study, 40 sedentary overweight and obese men (with an average body mass index of 28.41±1.75 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to four groups with 10 subjects each. The groups included placebo, Zataria multiflora, training, and training + Zataria multiflora. The exercise training was combined training consisting of resistance-endurance exercise, conducted three times per week over eight weeks. Zataria multiflora supplement consumption was set at 500 mg daily. Blood sampling was conducted before and after the eight-week intervention, and the levels of ANGPTL8, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were measured using the ELISA method.

A significant decrease in serum levels of ANGPTL8 was observed in the training and training + Zataria multiflora groups compared to the placebo and Zataria multiflora groups (P<0.05). A decrease in serum ICAM-1 levels was significant in the training + Zataria multiflora group compared to the placebo group (P<0.05). Statistically significant decreases in serum VCAM-1 levels were observed in the training and training + Zataria multiflora groups compared to the placebo and training + Zataria multiflora groups (P<0.05).

Zataria multiflora consumption, along with combined training, can have a synergistic effect in decreasing ANGPTL8, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 levels.

Thyme supplement plays an important role in combating obesity related disorders and can enhance the positive effects of exercise training in obese individuals. Therefore, researcher in the present study investigated the changes in the serum levels of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) and 4 (ANGPTL4), and C-reactive protein (CRP) following combined training alone or in combination with thyme ingestion in the obese men.

The 40 overweight and obese men in the equal 10 person groups including placebo (C), thyme (Z), training (CT) and training+thyme (CT+Z) groups participated in the present study. Each combined training session consist of resistance and endurance exercise, and thyme supplement was also consumed at 500 mg daily. Blood samples collected before and after eight weeks intervention and serum levels of ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and CRP was measured by ELISA method. Data were analyzed by means of analysis of covariance test and bonferroni post hoc test.

Serum levels of ANGPTL3 in the CT and CT+Z groups decreased significantly compared to C and Z groups (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between different groups for serum ANGPTL4 levels (p=0.059). In addition, significant decrease in serum levels of CRP in the CT (p=0.015) and CT+Z (p=0.003) groups compared to C group were observed.

It seems that, positive effects of combined training alone or in combination with thyme consumption in the obese men is partly due to a significant decrease in inflammatory adipokines (ANGPTL3, CRP), although consumption of thyme with combined training has no synergistic effect.