Interactive effect of Saffron extracts and acute resistance exercise on serum Paraoxonase-1 activity and C-reactive protein

Abstract

Acute and heavy exercises may increase oxidative stress and thereby suppress antioxidant defense system; thus it is necessary to take nutrition strategies to help athletes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 4-week consumption of saffron extract on the serum activity of PON1 enzyme and CRP in healthy young women following one session of acute resistance training. This study was a semi-experimental research. Therefore, 30 young non-athlete healthy women were divided randomly into three groups including resistance training, resistance training plus saffron extract and control groups. Following the supplementary period (4 weeks, 30 mg per day), the subjects performed a session of acute resistance training at %80 of 1RM (one repetition maximum). At the end of the supplementary period, blood samples were taken before and after the training. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used. Significance was considered below 0.05 (p < 0.05).
Results of the present study indicated that PON1 activity increased significantly in resistance training plus saffron extract groups and resistance training (p= 0.04, p=0.00 respectively), while mean difference of PON1 activity did not show significant difference between above-mentioned groups. Indeed, we observed that 4 weeks of saffron extract consumption (30 mg/day) did not significantly influence the serum CRP (p < 0.36). But serum PON1 activity increased significantly. Nonetheless, this elevation was not beyond the changes induced by resistance exercise alone. Based on the current results we cannot consider this dose of saffron extract influential on anti-oxidative enzyme PON1 in healthy inactive women.

Key words:

Saffron extract, resistance training, Paraoxonase-1 enzyme, C-reactive protein

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