The effect of combined training with quinoa seed supplementation on total antioxidant capacity, HbA1c, lipid profile, and blood pressure in women with type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that often results from unhealthy lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet. Nonetheless, regular physical activity and proper diet can help manage the disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 8 weeks of combined exercise at home with quinoa seed supplementation on total antioxidant capacity, HbA1c, lipid profile, and blood pressure in women with type 2 diabetes.

Our study involved 36 women with type 2 diabetes from the Taleghani Diabetes Center in Kermanshah, Iran. We divided the women into three groups, namely: exercise + supplement, supplement, and control, with 12 participants in each group. The exercise + supplement and supplement groups consumed 25 g/day of cooked quinoa seeds for 8 weeks and the exercise + supplement group performed combined exercise for 8 weeks, three times a week. We measured blood factors such as TAC, HbA1c, TG, CHOL, HDL, and LDL. We used descriptive statistics to calculate the mean and standard deviation of research data. We used the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to evaluate the normality of data distribution. If the data were normal, we used the one-way ANOVA test. We also used t test to examine within-group differences. We analyzed the data using SPSS software version 26 at a significance level of p < 0.05.

Our results showed that the exercise + supplement group had significant differences with the supplement and control groups in TAC, HbA1c, TG, CHOL, HDL, LDL, BMI, weight, and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). The sup group also had significant differences with the control group in BMI and weight (p < 0.05). However, we found no significant difference between the three groups in diastole blood pressure (p > 0.05).

In conclusion, based on our study's findings, we can confidently say that 8 weeks of combined training with quinoa supplementation can increase total antioxidant capacity, and reduce HbA1c, lipid profile, BMI, and weight in women with type 2 diabetes.

IRCT20200804048306N1, 13/04/2021 (https://fa.irct.ir).