Effect of Eight Weeks of Aerobic Exercise and Garlic Extract Use on the Blood Pressure, Fat Percentage, and Lipid Profile of Patients with Hypertension

Background: Obesity is known as one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Objectives: This quasi-experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise and garlic extract use on the blood pressure, fat percentage, and lipid profile of patients with hypertension. Methods: A total of 50 men with a mean age of 53 ± 7.6 years were recruited from among obese patients with blood pressure. They were randomly divided into five groups of aerobic exercise, garlic extract, aerobic exercise plus garlic extract, placebo, and control. The experimental groups underwent aerobic exercise (3 sessions per week, each session for 35 - 60 min with a maximum heart rate of 50 - 75) or garlic extract supplementation (daily use of 6 g) for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected before interventions and 48 h after the last exercise session. Statistical analysis was done by the dependent t-test and ANCOVA. Results: Body weight, body fat percentage, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and serum LDL significantly reduced in the aerobic exercise, garlic extract, and aerobic exercise plus garlic extract groups compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Aerobic exercise and aerobic exercise plus garlic extract groups showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol level and serum triglyceride and an increase in serum HDL compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Aerobic exercise plus garlic extract group indicated a higher increase in serum HDL and a higher decrease in the body weight, body fat percentage, and serum LDL compared with the control group (P ≤ 0.05). Aerobic exercise plus garlic extract group indicated a higher serum LDL decrease compared to the aerobic exercise group (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: Both aerobic exercise and garlic extract seem to be able to improve obesity, lipid profile, and hypertension. However, their concurrent use has no additional effects on the blood pressure control although it mostly influences lipid profile and body composition.