EFFECT OF 8 WEEKS AEROBIC EXERCISE AND SPIRULINA SUPPLEMENT ON IRON STATUS AND BODY COMPOSITION IN OVERWEIGHT AND FAT WOMEN.

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study is to assess the effect of aerobic exercise and spirulina supplement on iron status and body composition, in overweight and fat women.Methods: In this experimental study with a pretest-posttest design (with control group), 40 overweight or fat women were categorized in three experimental groups: spirulina supplement group, aerobic exercise group, and spirulina supplement and aerobic exercise combined group). We had also a control group. Aerobic exercise performed for 8 weeks and 3 session in each week (one hour sessions). In the spirulina supplement group, 500mg tablets of spirulina were used three times per day, and 30 minutes before each meal. Control group received capsules containing 500 mg of starch 3 times per day, and 30 minutes before each meal. Levels of Hemoglobin and Ferritin were measured before and after 8 weeks, and BMI, PBF, WHR were assesses using X-CONTACT 356 instrument for body analysis. Results were analyzed using SPSS 22. To analyze the data, Co-variance analysis with Bonferrine s post-hoc test were used.Results: None of groups indicated a significant alteration in Ferritin (P= 0.196) or Hemoglobin (P=0.868) indicators. In the aerobic exercise group along with spirulina supplement, BMI index indicated a significant difference in comparison to control group (P=0.031). However, WHR (P=0.480) and PBF (P=0.117) indicators showed no significant difference in the groupsConclusion: It seems that long term receiving spirulina supplement along with aerobic exercises