The Effect of Circuit Resistance Training Combined with Ginseng Supplementation Level of VEGF and PDGF in Inactive Females

Regular exercise expands capillary bed in active muscles which is mediated by several angiogenic factors. On the other hand, Ginseng is a herbal supplement that induces angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of circuit resistance training combined with ginseng supplementation on serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) in inactive females.

In this semi-experimental study Thirty-two healthy and inactive females (20-30years) were randomly divided into four homogenous groups first group received Training and Ginseng supplement (TG), group two received Training and Placebo (TP), group three received only Ginseng and group four only received placebo (P). The training groups received the circuit resistance training at the 65-75% of maximal intensity, 3 days a week for 6 weeks. Besides resistance training, subjects were given either ginseng (5 mg/kg per day) or placebo. before and 48 hours after interventions body composition was measured and blood samples were taken in order to assess serum levels of VEGF and PDGF. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were used to analyze the data.

We observed that circuit resistance training with and without ginseng supplementation significantly increased serum levels of VEGF in inactive females (p<0.05) but ginseng supplementation alone had no significant effect on VEGF levels (p>0.05). Moreover, circuit resistance training by itself also had no significant effect on PDGF levels (p>0.05), but ginseng supplementation alone and in combination with resistance training decreased PDGF levels (p>0.05).

Circuit resistance training in a short period of 6 months may increase circulatory levels of antigenic factors such as VEGF but ginseng supplementation had no effect on antigenic factors. Nonetheless, further studies are warranted in this field.