Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Obesity increases pro-inflammatory factors such as CRP which is associated with increased inflammation. The aim of this study was comparison of the effectiveness of three methods of taking green tea extract, aerobic training and combination of these two methods on CRP level in obese women.

Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2o12 in Isfahan. Thirty six females with age (33.63 ± 4.78 years), height (157.83 ± 5.59 cm), weight (84.25 ± 11.04 kg) and BMI (33.80 ± 4.11 kg/m²) were randomly selected in to four groups including: aerobic exercise, green tea extract, combined green tea extract along with aerobic exercise, and control. Initially body composition, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and CRP level were measured in four groups. Aerobic training program were included three sessions per week for 12 weeks. Green tea extract group consumed 500 mg green tea extract capsule for 12 weeks, three times a day after meals, and the third group took a combination of aerobic exercise and consumption of green tea extract. After 12 weeks in four groups, the mentioned variables were measured again. For comparison, t-test for paired comparison and analysis of variance test (ANOVA) were used for comparison between groups (significant level p< 0.05).

Results: In comparison with the control group, in all three groups (but not between groups) CRP level significantly decreased. Also, aerobic training decreased systolic blood pressure and aerobic training plus green tea extract decreased diastolic blood pressure, while systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly changed in the green tea extract group. No significant decrease in body composition including weight, BMI, fat, WHR was found among the three groups, but aerobic training and green tea extract decreased waist circumference, significantly (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The obtained result showed that aerobic training, green tea extract and their combination could decrease CRP level. Also the effect of aerobic training on blood pressure in obese participants, may suggest that exercise could lower blood pressure in hypertensive obese women.