Abstract
Introduction: Aerobic exercise (AE) and medicinal herbs may synergistically improve metabolic regulation and physical fitness. Therefore, this study examined the effects of an 8-week aerobic training combined with garcinia cambogia (GC) supplementation on metabolic and fitness outcomes in women with class I obesity.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 80 class I obese women (BMI > 30) aged 35–45 years employed at Iran Khodro Factory. Participants were randomly assigned to control, AE, GC, or combined intervention groups. Physical fitness and biochemical variables were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Moreover, exercise was performed three times per week, and hydroxycitric acid was supplemented daily at the recommended dose. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and paired t-test.
Results: Significant reductions were observed in serum aspartate transferase (MD:−3.7 U/L; 95% CI:−6.8 to −0.6; P = 0.021), alanine aminotransferase (MD:−4.0 U/L; 95% CI:−6.2 to −1.8; P = 0.015), triglycerides (MD:−13.3 mg/dL; 95% CI:−18.2 to −8.4; P = 0.001), total cholesterol (MD:−15.5 mg/dL; 95% CI:−22.1 to −8.9; P = 0.012), very-low-density lipoprotein (MD: −5.8 mg/dL; 95% CI:−8.5 to −3.1; P = 0.001), and fasting blood glucose (MD:−16.4 mg/dL; 95% CI:−22.5 to −10.3; P = 0.001) in the intervention groups compared with the control group. Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD: + 8.4 mg/dL; 95% CI:5.2 to 11.6; P = 0.004) and peak oxygen consumption (MD: + 9.8 mL/kg/min; 95% CI:7.2 to 12.4; P = 0.001) substantially increased following the interventions.
Conclusion: The combination of AE and GC supplementation effectively improved lipid metabolism, liver enzyme profiles, and aerobic capacity in obese class I women.