Effects of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Exercise in Water With and Without the Use of Wild Mountain Cumin on Renal Function Factors and Blood Mineral Levels in Obese Postmenopausal Women

Aims: Obesity is one of the greatest health challenges in the world and can lead to kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise with and without Bunium persicum (Boiss.) consumption on kidney function and the number of trace elements in the blood sample in obese menopausal women. Methods & Materials: In this experimental study, 29 obese menopausal women were randomly divided into 3 groups: exercise, supplement, and exercise+supplement with the mean body mass index of 28.3±3.2, 30.4±4.14, and 31.67±4.93 kg/m2, respectively. Eight weeks of exercise was performed in three 45-min sessions per week at 65-75% of the maximum heart rate. The supplement group received two meals of B. persicum for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, creatinine, urea, uric acid, iron, zinc, sodium, and magnesium were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS at the significance level of P≤0.05. Findings: The results showed that none of the renal function factors in the groups changed significantly. Intra-group changes in zinc significantly increased in the exercise and exercise + supplementation groups (P=0.041 and P=0.010, respectively). Intra-group changes in iron showed a significant decrease and increase in the exercise and supplement groups, respectively (P=0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). The inter-group variation of the iron was also significant (P=0.001). Conclusion: Eight weeks of aerobic exercises in water alone and in combination with B. persicum consumption did not affect renal function in obese and menopausal women, while aerobic exercise in water and B. persicum consumption alone led to some changes in trace elements.