The positive effects of different types of exercise training and curcumin consumption have been approved for overweight and obese individuals. However, there is no detailed information about the action mechanism of these interventions. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and curcumin ingestion on the levels of fetuin A and insulin resistance in sedentary women.
Materials and Methods: Sedentary overweight and obese women were assigned into four groups: placebo (P), curcumin (C), HIIT (H) and HIIT+curcumin (HC). The HIIT training program was performed for 12 weeks and three sessions per week on a treadmill. Curcumin ingestion was 80 mg daily. Two days after the last training session and curcumin consumption, blood samples collected as in the pre-test, and fetuin A, insulin and glucose levels were measured. Analysis of covariance and Bonferroni statistical tests were used to data analysis.
Result: The present findings indicated that, decrease in the levels of fetuin A in the H group compared to the P (p=0.001) and C (p=0.021) groups, as well as in the HC group compared to the P (<0.001) p), C (p<0.001) and HC (p=0.043) groups were significant statistically. Insulin resistance in the H group compared to P (p=0.001) and C (p=0.025) groups, and also in HC group compared to P (p<0.001) and C (p=0.002) groups showed a significant reduction.
Conclusion: It seems that the positive effects of HIIT alone and along with curcumin consumption including in improving insulin resistance exerted partly through the downregulation of fetuin A levels, and curcumin ingestion along with HIIT can increase the effectiveness of HIIT and has a synergistic effect.