The effect of eight weeks of aerobic training and Quercetin supplementation on blood pressure, C- reactive protein, and interleukin-6 in inactive overweight women

Introduction and purpose: One of the complications of overweight and obesity is inflammation and hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training with quercetin supplementation on hypertension, CRP, and IL-6 in inactive overweight women. Materials and Methods: Forty inactive healthy overweight women (age 33.25±6.1 years, fat percentage 36.65±2.78 and body mass index 28±2.31 kg/m2) were chosen and were divided into training + supplement (n=10), Training + placebo (n=10), supplement (n=10), and control (n=10). The aerobic training program consisted of eight weeks of running on a treadmill/three times per week, with an intensity of 65-80% of maximum heart rate. The quercetin or placebo supplement was 500 mg daily. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), C- reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured before and after the interventions. The data were analyzed by non-parametric Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis Tests at the significance level of P<0.05.  Results: The results showed that in the comparison between groups, there is no significant difference between any of the variables of the groups (P<0.05). But in the within-group comparison, it was found that the SBP indices in all groups except the control group, DBP in the exercise+supplement and exercise + placebo groups, IL-6 in the supplement, exercise + supplement and exercise + placebo­ groups had a significant decrease (P<0.05).However, no significant changes were observed in the CRP values ​​of the groups (P>0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: It seems that aerobic exercise with and without quercetin consumption can partially reduce some risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in inactive overweight women.