Combined Effects of Six Weeks Oat Bran Consumption and Brisk Walking Exercise on Blood Lipid Profiles in Hypercholesterolemia Women Aged 40 to 50 Years

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the additional beneficial effects of combined oat bran consumption and brisk walking exercise compared to oat bran consumption alone and sedentary without oat bran consumption on body weight, body composition and blood lipid profiles among hypercholesterolemia women with age ranged from 40 to 50 years old.
Methods: Thirty-three hypercholesterolemia women were randomly assigned into 3 groups: sedentary without oat bran consumption control (C), oat Bran consumption alone (Ob) and combined oat bran consumption and brisk walking exercise (ObEx) groups. Pre-and post-tests were carried out to measure participant’s body anthropometry, body composition and blood lipid profiles, i.e. serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). During 6 weeks of study period, participants in Ob and ObEx groups consumed 18 g of oat bran daily. Participants in ObEx executed brisk walking exercise at intensity of 55%-70% of the participants’ heart rate maximum for 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. Participants in ObEx group consumed oat bran 1 hour prior to brisk walking exercise on the exercise days.
Results: After 6 weeks of study period, body weight decreased significantly in both Ob (p=0.013) and ObEx (p=0.02) groups, however there were no significant changes in percentage of body fat and fat free mass in all the groups. There were significant decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.02) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.019) concentrations in ObEx group.
Conclusion: Six-weeks of oat bran consumption with 18 g of oat bran per day combined with brisk walking exercise for 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week could significantly reduce body weight, serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) concentrations. Therefore, this combination can be proposed as guidelines in nutritional and exercise promotion programme to improve lipid profiles in 40 to 50 years old hypercholester olemia women.