Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in combination with resistance training reduced blood pressure in the elderly hypertensive men
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in combination with resistance training reduced blood pressure in the elderly hypertensive men
Shima Mojtahedi,1,*
1. University of Tehran, dept of Exercise Physiology
Introduction: The mechanisms and causes of hypertension, especially essential hypertension, are not fully understood. Several factors, such as atherosclerotic plaques and inflammation, aging and disease, and poor diet and inadequate physical activity, are among the factors implicated. In addition to the treatment of hypertension with standard medications, adjuvant therapies are needed to improve patient outcomes and mitigate potential side effects of treatment strategies. To date, there is accumulating data on the effect of exercise with or without other treatments such as herbal remedies on cardiovascular risk factors. So, we sought to determine the independent and combined effects of saffron and resistance training on markers of cardiovascular risk factors in elderly hypertensive patients.
Methods: 48 Hypertensive older men were randomly assigned to a control group (C) or one of three experimental groups [saffron consumption (S), resistance training (R), and resistance training + saffron (RS)] for 12 weeks. cardiovascular risk factors were measured at baseline and following the 12-week intervention period. Patients in S and RS received one tablet containing 200 mg of saffron daily. Primary outcomes were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: In comparison to the CO and S, RTS reduced systolic BP. Nitric oxide increased in the RTS compared to the CO group. There was a significant increase and decrease in adiponectin and endothelin-1 in the S and RT compared to the CO, respectively.
Conclusion: Overall, the present study indicates that 12 weeks of resistance training and saffron supplementation, when combined, effectively improves cardiovascular risk factors in older hypertensive male patients. We also observed some positive effects for S alone and R alone in increasing HDL, recommended for patients who were unwilling or unable to do one or the other. In general, our findings could lead to future research questions to find out the mechanisms involved in the effects of resistance training or saffron supplementation on how changes in vascular endothelium and its cardiovascular healing consequences and mechanistic changes in some lesser-known inflammatory biomarkers.