The effect of Total Resistance Exercise combined with milk thistle consumption on cardiovascular risk factors in men with hypertension

Introduction: Clinical evidence points to an increase in the prevalence of hypertension in recent years. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of total resistance exercise (TRX) combined with Milk thistle on cardiovascular risk factor (TG, TC, LDL, HDL) in adult men with hypertension.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental research, 48 adult men with hypertension aged 30-40 years of old with hypertension were randomly divided into control (no intervention); supplement (Milk thistle, 280 mg /daily); exercise (TRX, 3 times/weekly) and combined group (TRX + Milk thistle). The TRX and supplementation intervention lasted 8 weeks. Pre and post intervention of TG, TC, LDL, HDL and anthropometric indexes were recorded for all groups. Data were compared by ANOVA between groups (p < 0.05).

Results: A significant difference in all cardiovascular risk factors was observed between the exercise and supplement groups with the control group (p<0.001). On the other hand, milk thistle consumption during TRX training led to a significant decrease in TG and LDL and a significant increase in HDL compared to each of them alone (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The consumption of Milk thistle during TRX is associated with more cardiovascular effects than the application of each of them alone in adult men with hypertension. Understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for these changes requires further studies.