The Effect of Pilates Training along with Saffron Consumption on Body Composition of Female

Subject Areas : Open Access

Setareh Sharafi ¹ , Ghobad Hassanpour ² , Mehdi Noura ³

1 - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
2 - Department of Sport Physiology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
3 - Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Received: 2020-12-17 Accepted : 2020-12-17 Published : 2020-11-21

Keywords: saffron, body composition, Pilates Training,

Abstract :

Abstract Introduction: Nutrition and exercise are two factors affecting weight control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of selected Pilates trainings with saffron consumption on body composition of female. Materials and Methods: In this quasi- experimental study, 32 non-athlete female volunteers were divided into four groups of eight based on body weight, including 1) training, 2) saffron, 3) training + saffron and 4) placebo. Groups 1 and 3 performed Pilates trainings for 3 sessions per week . Each session lasted 60 minutes. Groups 2 and 3 consumed capsules containing 30 mg of saffron daily, and groups 4 received capsules containing placebo for 8 weeks. In the pre- test and 72 hours after the last training session and saffron consumption, the body composition of the subjects was measured using the BOCA X1 body composition device made in South Korea. To analyze the data, Shapiro- Wilk test, one-way ANOVA test with Tukey’s post- hoc test were used (P≤0.05). Findings: Pilates training, saffron consumption and Pilates training with saffron consumption had a significant effect on reducing the percentage of fat mass, increasing the percentage of total body fluid and the percentage of lean body mass (P=0.001). Also Pilates training with saffron consumption compared to consumption of saffron had a favorable effect on reducing the percentage of body fat mass (P=0.01) and increasing the percentage of total body fluid (P=0.009). Discussion: Although Pilates training and saffron consumption alone improve body composition, it seems that Pilates training combined with saffron consumption has more favorable effects than saffron. Keywords: Pilates Training, Saffron, Body Composition   Extended abstract Introduction The development of machine facilities, on one hand, has led to a better life and more leisure, and on the other hand, has reduced physical activity. This has led people to take an inactive life and has created a noticeable lack of movement in human life (1). Pilates is an exercise system founded in 1930 by Joseph Pilates. Today, what has made this unknown sport a complementary sport to the public and even home is the excellent performance of this sport and its application to all people of all ages and genders from a professional athlete to a housewife and its special condition like pregnancy (8). In addition to physical activity, one of the factors that can affect body composition is controlling and managing food intake. Some medical plants are more popular in today's society due to their weight loss effects. Saffron has been used as a well-known drug to treat many diseases throughout history and in different nationalities (3). Numerous therapeutic properties have been mentioned for saffron and its active ingredients, including anti-depressant, anti-anxiety and hypnotic effects, anti-seizure, muscle relaxant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti- Alzheimer's, and anti-tumor and antitussives. Today, the use of natural and traditional supplements to perform sports skills better by improving body composition and increasing strength has become very popular. Considering the popularity and prevalence of Pilates in Iran in the last decade and the high tendency of people in this sport, especially in Iranian women, and the lack of studies on the interactive effects of Pilates training and crocin consumption on body composition, this study aimed to investigate the effect of Pilates along with saffron consumption on body composition of female.   Material and methods In this quasi-experimental study, 32 non-athlete women with mean age of 33±3.28 years were selected as the statistical sample. Inclusion criteria included no smoking, no cardiovascular disease and no weight loss drugs. At the beginning of the research, the informed consent form was completed by all subjects. Then, after measuring the demographic characteristics, the subjects were divided into four groups of eight based on body weight including 1) training, 2) saffron, 3) training + saffron and 4) placebo. During eight weeks, groups 2 and 3 consumed capsules containing 30 mg of saffron extract daily and group 4 consumed capsules containing placebo (13). Also groups 1 and 3 performed Pilates trainings for 3 sessions per week and 60 minutes each session (14). Each Pilates session consisted of 10 minutes of light warm- up, 15 minutes of stretching, 25 minutes of specialized exercises, and 10 minutes of cooling down. Before starting the research in the pre- test and 72 hours after the last training session and consumption of saffron, the body composition of the subjects was measured using the BOCA X1 body composition made in South Korea (2). Shapiro- Wilk, one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post- hoc tests were used to analyze the data (P≤0.05).   Findings The results showed that the percentage of the body fat mass in training, saffron and training + saffron groups compared to the control group in the post- test had a significant decrease than that of the pre-test (P=0.001). Also, the percentage of body fat mass in the training group + saffron in comparison with the saffron group in the post- test had a significant decrease than that of the pre- test (P=0.01). Percentage of total body fluid in the training + saffron group compared to the saffron group in the post- test had a significant increase compared to the pre- test (P=0.009). The percentage of lean body mass in the training, saffron and training + saffron groups compared to the control group in the post- test had a significant increase than the pre- test (P=0.001). The results also showed that the percentage of body fat mass in the training, saffron and training + saffron groups in the post- test was significantly reduced compared to the pre- test (P=0.001); Percentage of total body fluid in the training + saffron group in the post- test increased significantly compared to the pre- test (P=0.001). Also, the percentage of lean body mass in the training, saffron and training + saffron groups in the post- test significantly increased compared to the pre- test (P=0.001).   Discussion The results of the present study showed that eight weeks of Pilates training significantly reduced the percentage of body fat mass and increased the percentage of lean body mass. Consistent with the present study, eight weeks of Pilates training resulted in a reduction in body fat percentage, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and abdominal fat (15). Regarding the use of exercises to control weight and body composition in women, it should be stated that due to the increasing prevalence of overweight in women and its consequences in adulthood, the use of an appropriate exercise to control weight and body composition is necessary. In fact, exercise can control weight and body composition by increasing calorie consumption. Also, the results of the present study showed that eight weeks of saffron consumption led to a significant reduction in the percentage of body fat mass and an increase in the percentage of lean body mass. To confirm the beneficial effects of saffron consumption, Hooshmand Moghadam and Gaini (2018) reported that daily consumption of 150 mg saffron led to a decrease in body fat percentage (12). It has been pointed out that the effects of saffron are due to the active ingredients of saffron, especially flavonoids (crocetin and crocin) as well as polyphenolic compounds, so that these substances can increase the antioxidant defense system (12). Regarding the interactive effects, the findings of the present study showed that Pilates training along with saffron consumption led to a significant decrease in the percentage of body fat mass and also a significant increase in the percentage of total body fluid and lean body mass. In addition, training along with saffron had a greater effect on reducing the percentage of body fat mass and increasing the percentage of total body fluid. Regarding these findings, it can be concluded that performing Pilates training along with saffron consumption has more favorable effects on body composition than saffron consumption alone.   Conclusion Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that although Pilates training and saffron consumption alone lead to improved body composition, Pilates training combined with saffron consumption seems to have more favorable effects than saffron.   Ethical Considerations Compliance with ethical guidelines All subjects full fill the informed consent.   Funding No funding.   Authors' contributions Design and conceptualization: Setareh Sharafi, Ghobad Hassanpour; Methodology and data analysis: Setareh Sharafi; Supervision and final writing: Ghobad Hassanpour.   Conflicts of interest The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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