Introduction and Purpose: Research has demonstrated that herbal medicines and exercise can be effective in preventing and treating obesity and overweight conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of four weeks of Pilates training and turmeric supplementation on the plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profiles in overweight women.
Materials and Methods: This research employed a semi-experimental design. Sixty women, aged 20 to 40 years, with a body mass index of 27.34±1.36 kg/m², were selected and randomly divided into four groups: Pilates exercise + supplement, Pilates exercise + placebo, supplement only, and placebo only. Pilates training was conducted for four weeks, with three sessions per week, each lasting 45 minutes. The supplement groups received a 700 mg capsule of turmeric three times a day, 30 minutes after meals, while the placebo group received a capsule containing breadcrumbs. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before and after the intervention. Analysis of covariance and SPSS statistical software (version 26) were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: Pilates exercise, both alone and in combination with turmeric, significantly improved CRP (p=0.001 for both) and lipid profiles (p=0.001 for both) in overweight women, with the combined effect being greater. Conversely, turmeric alone improved CRP (p=0.001) but had no significant effect on lipid profiles (p=1.00).
Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a regular, short protocol of Pilates exercise, combined with low to moderate doses of turmeric supplements, can improve inflammatory indices and lipid profiles in overweight women.