The Effect of Ginger Supplementation and EnduranceTraining on Serum Levels of IL-1α and TNF-α

ABSTRACT         Background and Objective: Exercise training and supplementation have different effects on the immune system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ginger supplementation and endurance training on serum levels of Interleukin 1 alpha (IL1α) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in untrained young women.         Methods: The study was performed on 32 untrained young women with mean age of 30±2 years from city of Abbas Abad, in 2014. The participants were randomly assigned into four groups of endurance training (E), endurance training and ginger supplementation (EG), ginger supplementation (G) and control (C). Endurance training was performed at 60-70% heart rate reserve for six weeks, three times a week, and for 60 minutes per session. Daily supplementation with 10 mg/Kg/day of ginger extract was carried out. T-test and ANOVA were used to evaluate the effect of independent variables, and make comparisons between the groups.           Results: The mean level of IL-1α decreased significantly after the training period in the G and EG groups. There were significant differences between E and EG groups and EG and C groups. The results of intergroup comparison showed that the mean levels of TNFα decreased significantly after the training in the E, G and EG groups. There were significant differences between E and EG groups, E and G groups, EG and C groups, and G and C groups.          Conclusion: Ginger consumption and adaptation to endurance training can counteract the negative effects on immune function and stability of mast cell membrane.           Keywords: Endurance Training, Ginger, IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha.