Abstract
Background: Performing sports activities along with nutritional interventions is recommended as an effective way to reduce inflammatory cytokines and improve insulin resistance in obese people. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise and Ginkgo biloba herbal supplementation on lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) levels and insulin resistance in obese men.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 40 obese men in Kashan were selected in an accessible and purposeful manner. Subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups, including aerobic exercise (n=10), aerobic exercise and ginkgo biloba supplementation (n=10), ginkgo biloba supplementation (n=10), and control group (n=10). Subjects performed aerobic exercise and supplementation for 6 weeks. Accordingly, the subjects started aerobic exercise for 25 minutes with an intensity of 65% of the maximum heart rate in the first and second weeks. In the third and fourth weeks, they practiced for 35 minutes with an intensity of 65%-75% of the maximum heart rate, and finally for 40 minutes with 75%-85% of maximum heart rate in the fifth and sixth weeks. Ginkgo biloba extract was prepared in the form of gelatin capsules, two of which were daily consumed by subjects after breakfast for 6 weeks. The subjects performed their usual daily activities in the control group. The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software (version 22) at the level of 0.05.
Results: The results of the study showed that 6 weeks of aerobic exercise and Ginkgo biloba herbal supplementation significantly reduced Lcn2 levels (P<0.001 and η²=0.61) and insulin resistance (P<0.001 and η²=0.74) in obese men.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, it seems that aerobic exercise and Ginkgo biloba herbal supplementation can significantly contribute to regulating body weight in obese men through a reduction in insulin resistance and Lcn2.