Intense Circuit Resistance Training along with Zataria multiflora Supplementation Reduced Plasma Retinol Binding Protein-4 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Postmenopausal Females

Background: It is observed that the levels of retinol binding protein-4 (RBP-4) and cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in people with obesity, diabetes and low physical activity, such as postmenopausal females, are more than those of the healthy individuals. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of circuit resistance training (CRT) and Zataria multiflora supplementation (ZMSuppl) on RBP-4 and TNF-α in postmenopausal females. Methods: Forty-eight untrained postmenopausal females participated in the study and were divided into four groups (n = 12) of control (Con), CRT, ZMSuppl and CRT along with ZMSuppl (CRT + ZMSuppl). CRT program included 12 stations (30 seconds for each station, 85% one repetition maximum) for eight weeks (three sessions/week). 500 mg of ZMSuppl was consumed daily after breakfast in ZMSuppl and CRT + ZMSuppl groups. Blood samples were taken 48 hours before the first session and 48 hour after the last session of training to measure plasma RBP-4 and TNF-α. Results: A significant reduction was observed in plasma TNF-α in the CRT + ZMSuppl group in comparison with Con (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant reduction was observed in plasma RBP-4 in both CRT and CRT + ZMSuppl groups in comparison with Con (P < 0.01) and ZMSuppl (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The current study showed that intense CRT causes significant reduction only in plasma RBP-4; but this reduction was higher in RBP-4 and also in TNF-α, when ZMSuppl was added to CRT. Therefore, it may be an effective method to reduce disorders and abnormalities related to inflammatory factors resulting from menopause.