Effects of ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe ) supplementation and resistance training on some blood oxidative stress markers in obese men

Abstract Excessive adiposity increases oxidative stress, and thus may play a critical role in the pathogenesis and development of obesity-associated comorbidities, in particular atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and arterial hypertension. Improved body composition, through exercise training and diet, may therefore significantly contribute to a reduction in oxidative stress. Further, some foods high in antioxidants (e.g., ginger) provide additional defense against oxidation. This study was conducted to assess the effects of ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe ) supplementation and progressive resistance training (PRT) on some nonenzymatic blood [total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA)] oxidative stress markers in obese men. Thirty-two obese males (body mass index ≥30, aged 18–30 years) were randomized to one of the following four groups: a placebo (PL; n = 8); resistance training plus placebo (RTPL; n = 8); resistance training plus ginger supplementation (RTGI; n = 8); and ginger supplementation only (GI; n = 8). Participants in the RTGI and GI groups consumed 1 g ginger/day for 10 weeks. At the same time, PRT was undertaken by the RTPL and RTGI groups three times/week. Resting blood samples were collected at baseline and at 10 weeks, and analyzed for plasma nonenzymatic TAC and MDA concentration. After the 10-week intervention, we observed significant training × ginger supplementation × resistance training interaction for TAC ( p = 0.043) and significant interactions for training × resistance training and training × ginger supplementation for MDA levels ( p