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Introduction: The purpose of this research was to study the effect of eight weeks of aerobic and progressive exercises on blood estrogen and other factors affecting bone density in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Twenty postmenopausal women, with average of age and height and weight of 51/05±0/22yr, 164/5±1/09cm and 67/30±0/85 kg respectively, who had no regular daily physical activity, voluntarily participated in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two the experimental and the control, groups. Experimental group excercises included eight-weeks of aerobic interval running three sessions per week, with progressive intensity and time. Blood and urine samples were taken before starting the exercise period, to calculate levels of estrogen, calcitonin, paratormon hormones, calcium and phosphorus from the former, and levels of calcium and phosphorus from the lather. Results: Eight weeks of progressive and aerobic exercises caused a significant change in the amount of estrogen(17.6±4.22 to 27.9±8.64), parathormon(20.8±3.58 to 19.2±1.98) hormones, blood calcium (9.44±0.24 to 8.8±0.71), phosphorus (3.87±0.38 to 4.23±0.25) and urine phosphorus(61.22±4.43 to 42.16±10.06), whereas no significant change was seen in the amount of calcitonin hormone (3.94±3.36 to 4.84±1.96) and urine calcium (9.74±0.68 to 9.35±1.30) .Conclusion: Based on the results, it seems that long progressive physical exercises, especially weight bearing ones, can be effective in increasing the estrogen level, thereby preventing ostheoprothesis, and also preserving bone salts(calcium and blood phosphorus), by causing hormonal changes effective on these salts(calcitonin and parathormone).

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Introduction: Preptin is a recently isolated peptide hormone that is co-secreted with insulin from the pancreatic beta-cells. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and caloric restriction on serum preptin levels and HOMA-IR in sedentary obese women. Materials and methods: Forty women who referred to home health centers were divided into four groups for 16 weeks of follow up: Aerobic exercise (experimental group 1), caloric restriction (experimental group 2), aerobic exercise with caloric restriction (experimental group 3) and the control group. Training programs in experimental group 1 consisted of aerobic training and running on a treadmill for 105.183±5.63 minutes, 4 times a wk. In experimental group 2, subjects followed a diet with caloric restriction equivalent to physical activity energy expenditure. Subjects in the experimental group 3 used a training program similar to experimental group 1 for 66.85±5.34 minutes, 3 times a wk and received a diet with half the amount of caloric restriction of experimental group 2. Results: Weight, BMI and WHR showed significant reduction in the experimental groups. Serum preptin levels were decreased by 21.97%, 28.32% and 27.11% in experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. HOMA-IR was decreased significantly in the 3 groups. Significant correlations were seen between changes of preptin and changes of weight, WHR and HOMA-IR (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the relationship between preptin and insulin resistance and the influence of aerobic exercise and caloric restriction, preptin may play an effective role in weight management and prevention of diabetes.

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Introduction: In present study, we examined the effects of endurance training alone and endurance training combined with taking garlic supplement on serum homocysteine levels, complex plasminogen activator (TPA), and body composition parameters such as weight, BMI and body fat percentage in sedentary women. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven women who used to Alzahra sport clubs of 3 and 4 municipality of Tehran participated in this study (age, 38.53±7.59 years; weight, 77.61±5.26 kg). The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, endurance training, endurance training combined with garlic supplement and the control groups. The training protocol included: Running on a treadmill for 60 minutes at 60 to 75% of maximum heart rate for 10 weeks 5 times a week. Subjects of the training combined with garlic supplement group, received 2 tablets daily (in the form of capsules, 500 mg, nature made). At the beginning and 48 hours after training, the subjects were assessed for homocysteine and TPA. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and one way ANOVA (P<0.05). Results: Findings showed that in the endurance training and the endurance training combined with garlic supplement groups, serum homocysteine levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Although, other variables were reduced, but these changes were not statistically significant. Conclusion: According to this study, 10 weeks of endurance exercise with reduction of homocysteine levels, could lead to reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease in sedentary obese women.