Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Diabetes is associated with many pathological changes and one of the most important consequences of the diabetes is hepatic injury. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of eight weeks endurance training with consumption of cinnamon supplementation on plasma concentrations of liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in women with type II diabetes.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 36 female volunteers with type II diabetes (age 52.72±2.64 years and body mass index 29.28±2.94 Kg/m2) were participated. The subjects were homogenized regarding their body mass index and then were divided randomly into four groups (each group=9 patients): Training, training-cinnamon, cinnamon, and Control. Endurance training was performed for eight weeks (three sessions per week) at the intensity of 60-75% of maximum heart rate for 40-60 minutes. The consumption of cinnamon supplementation was 1.5 gr per day. Plasma concentrations of ALT and AST were measured following 12 hours fasting, 48 hours before and after performing the experiment, by the enzymatic method. Data were analyzed by paired t-test and factorial ANOVA, using SPSS version 21 (Chicago, IL, USA) and at the significant level of P<0.05.

Results: The levels of ALT was reduced in three experimental groups, which only its reduction was significant after consumption of cinnamon P<0.05. Also, plasma concentrations of AST increased in training-cinnamon and decreased in training and cinnamon groups which none of them was not significant. All interventions had no effect on blood fasting glucose in all experimental groups P>0.05. There was no significant difference between groups in pre and posttests.

Conclusion: The results confirm that cinnamon supplementation may be effective in improving the plasma levels of ALT but the intensity and duration of an effective exercise training especially with consumption of cinnamon supplementation simultaneously need more study in diabetic patients.