Method: Thirty-seven obese individuals [91% female, 36.0±12.4 yrs, 43.4±5.45 %body fat, 31.03±1.27 body mass index) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: 14 subjects received exercise training and dietary supplementation (EDS), 12 subjects only received dietary supplementation (DS), and 11 subjects served as the control group (CON) through a 12-week period. Venous blood was drawn at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks to analyze oxidative stress markers. Differences within and between treatments were tested using repeated measures ANOVA.
Analysis/Results: Between group-comparison, EDS showed a significantly greater increase in SOD activity and CAT activity at week 12 (p < 0.05) as compared to CON. EDS also had a significantly greater increase in GP activity at 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.05), compared to DS and CON. Within group-comparison, EDS had a significantly greater increase in SOD activity at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (p < 0.01), in CAT activity at 12 weeks (p < 0.05), and in GP activity at 8 and 12 weeks (p < 0.01) from baseline. DS also showed a significantly greater increase in SOD activity at 8 weeks (p < 0.01) and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in TAS and LP within group-comparison and between group-comparison over a 12-week period.
Conclusions: The current findings confirm that combination of exercise training and dietary supplementation can improve antioxidant capacity to prevent oxidative stress in obese individuals. Subsequently, the combined treatments can strengthen antioxidant defenses and may reduce oxidative stress in obese individuals.