The Effect of an Eight Week Combined Exercise Training on Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Postmenopausal Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: The basic levels of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation is higher than normal in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, due to the positive effects of exercise training (especially combined exercise training) on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in healthy people, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an 8 week combined exercise training (Aerobic and Resistance) on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 27 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes (age 55.30±4.1 years old, BMI 26.47±3.08 kg/m2) from Yazd city were purposefully selected and randomly divided into experimental (n=13) and control (n=14) groups. The experimental group participated in an eight week combined exercise training (three session per week), but during this period, the control group did not participate in any exercise training program. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and body fat percent were measured before and after the eight-week combined exercise training. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Serum SOD and CAT levels significantly increased (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001 respectively) and the MDA levels decreased (P = 0.036) in the experimental group after 8 weeks of combined exercise training. Also, FBS (P=0.000) and body fat percent (P=0.005) decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: It seems that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation status in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes in the experimental group improve after eight weeks of combined exercise training, compared with the control group.