kjhp Korean Journal of Health Promotion Korean J Health Promot 2234-2141 2093-5676 The Korean Society of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 10.15384/kjhp.2014.14.2.59 kjhp-14-59 Original Article The Synergy Effect of Weight‐Bearing Circuit Training and Aloe QDM Complex on Obese Middle Aged Women: a Randomized Double‐Blind Controlled Trial ChoiMi Jung 1 KimYong An 1 ShinEunju 2 DoSeon-Gil 2 SongWook 1 Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea Univera Inc., Seoul, Korea Corresponding author：Wook Song, PhD Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-748, Korea Tel: +82-2-880-7804, Fax: +82-2-886-7804 E-mail: songw3@snu.ac.kr 01 2014 20 01 2014 14 2 59 66 16012014 10062014 Copyright © 2014 The Korean Society of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 2014 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Background

Obesity is a major health problem and leads to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. Recently, it was reported that aloe QDM complex, composed of processed aloe vera gel, aloesin and chromiun could improve insulin sensitivity by enhancing 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein (AMPK) activity and has an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is also known that aloe QDM complex can reduce body weight, body fat mass and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes patients. The purpose of this study was to assess for possible synergistic effects of weight-bearing circuit training and aloe QDM complex supplementation on body composition, physical fitness, blood profile and diabetes risk factors.

 Methods

Study subjects included 19 participants randomly assigned to the Exercise group (Ex, n=9) and to the Exercise with aloe QDM complex group (Q-Ex, n=10). Both groups participated in weight-bearing circuit training 3 times a week for 4 weeks and took a capsule composed of either aloe (aloe QDM complex) or soy bean (placebo), 1100 mg/day for 4 weeks. Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Grip strength, flexibility, curl-up, balance, agility, Sargent jump and VO2max were measured, as well as fasting blood samples taken.

 Results

After 4 weeks of weight-bearing circuit training and aloe QDM complex supplementation, the significant interactions (time × intervention) between the groups regarding body fat percentage (F=7.024, P=0.017) and body fat mass (F=5.243, P=0.035) were calculated. There were significant differences in body fat percentage (P=0.029) and body fat mass (P=0.039). No significant interaction was observed in physical fitness, blood profile and diabetes risk factors.

 Conclusions

In this study, the combination of weight-bearing circuit training and aloe QDM complex supplementation showed a positive effect for reducing body fat mass, and could be an effective intervention for managing obesity.

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Study population and design

Exercise program

Type Intensity Duration, wk Frequency Contents
Weight bearing circuit training (HRmax – HRrest) × 40% to 60% + HRrest 4 3 times/wk, 20–30 repetition, 2 sets Hip circles, push up, lateral squat, long lever crunches, squat, arm & leg raise, calf raise

Abbreviations: HRmax, maximum heart rate; HRrest, resting heart rate.

Basal characteristics of study subjects at ‘intention-to-treat' (ITT) and ‘per-protocol' (PP)a

Variables ITT PP P
Ex (n=12) Q‐Ex (n=16) Ex (n=9) Q‐Ex (n=10) ITT PP
Age, y 51.0±2.0 50.0±2.3 50.7±2.4 50.7±2.4 N.S. N.S.
Height, cm 155.3±1.8 157.8±1.4 153.7±2.1 156.2±1.3 N.S. N.S.
Weight, kg 64.6±2.4 63.5±2.1 65.0±2.7 59.9±1.7 N.S. N.S.
WHR 0.92±0.008 0.90±0.014 0.93±0.009 0.88±0.013 N.S. 0.013b
BMI, kg/m2 26.8±0.8 25.5±0.7 27.4±0.7 24.6±0.7 N.S. 0.010c
Body fat, % 37.2±0.8 37.6±0.9 38.2±0.7 36.5±1.0 N.S. N.S.
Lean body, % 62.8±0.8 62.4±0.9 61.8±0.7 63.5±1.0 N.S. N.S.
VO2max, mL/kg/min 21.9±1.5 22.9±0.6 20.0±1.3 22.68±0.9 N.S. N.S.
FBG, mg/dL 94.8±3.4 104.1±11.4 95.3±4.4 91.6±3.1 N.S. N.S.
Insulin, mlU/L 6.6±1.0 7.3±1.1 7.3±1.2 6.5±1.7 N.S. N.S.
HbA1c, % 6.1±0.1 5.9±0.2 6.0±0.1 5.6±0.1 N.S. 0.004d
HOMA‐IR 1.6±0.2 1.9±0.3 1.7±0.3 1.5±0.5 N.S. N.S.
Total cholesterol, mg/dL 208.0±8.6 192.2±5.8 216.9±9.6 197.1±8.1 N.S. N.S.
HDL‐C, mg/dL 49.8±2.3 55.6±3.8 49.0±2.7 57.6±5.8 N.S. N.S.
Triglyceride, mg/dL 131.0±25.6 112.6±23.2 145.6±33.0 124.0±36.8 N.S. N.S.

Abbreviations: Ex, exercise group; Q‐Ex, aloe QDM complex group; WHR, waist hip ratio; BMI, body mass index; VO2max, maximum oxygen consumption; FBG, fasting blood glucose; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Values are presented as mean±SEM.

Calculated by independent t-test in PP group, P=0.013.

Calculated by independent t-test in PP group, P=0.010.

Calculated by independent t-test in PP group, P=0.004.

Changes in body composition measured by DXA after 4 weeks of weight bearing circuit training and aloe QDMC supplementation (n=19)a

Variables Pre Post F P
Ex Q‐Ex Ex Q‐Ex
Body fat, % 38.2±2.1 36.5±3.1 37.7±2.3 34.9±2.9b,c 7.024 0.017d
Body fat mass, kg 24.8±3.6 22.0±3.5 24.2±3.6e 20.6±3.5f,g 5.243 0.035h
Lean body mass, kg 40.1±4.9 37.9±2.8 39.9±5.1 38.3±3.3 1.929 0.183

Abbeviations: Ex, exercise group; Q‐Ex, aloe QDM complex group; DXA, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Values are presented as mean±SEM.

Calculated by paired t-test, P=0.001, compared with Pre Q-Ex.

Calculated by independent t-test, P=0.029, compared with Post Ex group.

Calculated by repeated measures ANOVA, P=0.017, time × intervention interaction.

Calculated by paired t-test, P=0.032, compared with Pre Ex group.

Calculated by paired t-test, P<0.001, compared with Pre Q-Ex group.

Calculated by independent t-test, P=0.039, compared with Post Ex group.

Calculated by repeated measures ANOVA, P=0.035, time × intervention interaction.

Changes in physical fitness after 4 weeks of weight bearing circuit training and aloe QDMC supplementation (n=19)a,b

Variables Pre Post F P
Ex Q-Ex Ex Q-Ex
Grip strength, kg 26.4±1.6 25.5±1.5 29.0±1.3 27.6±1.1 0.116 0.738
Flexibility, cm 16.8±2.3 13.7±2.3 18.1±2.4 17.5±2.0 2.638 0.123
Curl-up, times/60 sSargent jump, cm 12.8±1.720.1±1.1 13.4±1.520.6±1.6 14.8±1.722.1±1.1 17.3±1.323.7±1.6 2.7710.437 0.1140.517
Agility, msec 334±32.5 302±31.1 287±55.3 272±32.1 0.064 0.803
Balance, s 21.4±5.9 15.5±5.8 27.0±5.9 53.5±16.9 4.176 0.057
VO2max, mL/kg/min 20.0±1.3 22.7±0.9 21.8±1.2 25.9±1.5 0.509 0.485

Abbeviations: Ex, exercise group; Q‐Ex, aloe QDM complex group; VO2max, maximum oxygen consumption.

Values are presented as mean±SEM.

Calculated by repeated measures ANOVA.

Changes in blood lipids and diabetes risk factors after 4 weeks of weight bearing circuit training and aloe QDMC supplementation (n=19)a,b

Variables Pre Post F P
Ex Q‐Ex Ex Q‐Ex
Lipid profile
 Triglyceride, mL/dL 145.6±33.0 124.0±36.8 111.1±19.6 75.0±13.5 0.211 0.652
 Total cholesterol, mg/dL 216.9±9.5 197.1±8.0 219.4±7.8 192.1±6.0 0.765 0.394
 HDL‐C, mL/dL 49.0±2.2 57.6±5.8 43.8±1.5 57.8±5.3 0.049 0.828
Diabetes risk factors            
 FBG, mg/dL 95.3±4.3 91.6±3.0 97.7±4.4 90.8±1.6 0.419 0.526
 Insulin, mIU/L HbA1c, % 7.3±3.66.1±0.12 6.5±1.75.6±0.0 6.0±2.06.01±0.08 4.7±0.35.6±0.0 0.0562.342 0.8160.144
 HOMA‐IR 1.71±0.27 1.54±0.47 1.42±0.16 1.06±0.08 0.140 0.713

Abbreviations: Ex, exercise group; Q‐Ex, aloe QDM complex group; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; FBG, fasting blood glucose; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance.

Values are presented as mean±SEM.

Calculated by repeated measures ANOVA.