Effects of hemp seed alone and combined with aerobic exercise on metabolic parameters, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors in young sedentary men.

2022-09-17
Journal of food biochemistry 46(12)
- Ali Mohammadrezaei
- Ali Kavakeb
- Mahdieh Abbasalizad-Farhangi
- Mehran Mesgari-Abbasi

PubMed: 36114824
DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14417

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: 48 sedentary young men in Tabriz, Iran
Methods: double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial; hemp seed supplement (two 1-g capsules daily), aerobic PA thrice weekly; groups: hemp seed, hemp seed + PA, PA + placebo, placebo
Blinding: Double-blind
Duration: from April to August

Hemp seed and physical activity (PA) have many benefits for the metabolic and brain health of the body. This study investigated the effects of hemp seed alone and aerobic exercise on metabolic markers, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors in young sedentary men. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 48 sedentary young men in Tabriz, Iran, from April to August. The researcher in this study randomized all participants into four groups, including (1) hemp seed, (2) hemp seed + PA, (3) PA + placebo, and (4) placebo. Hemp seed supplement was administered in two 1-g capsules daily, and aerobic PA was performed a week thrice. Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention. We used ANOVA and ANCOVA analysis to compare oxidative stress and neurotropic factors in all intervention groups. If the distribution of the response variable was not normal, the non-parametric equivalent of these tests was used (Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests). We performed all statistical analyzes using SPSS software version 23, and the significance level was considered 0.05 in all the statistical tests. Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline. Also, aerobic PA alone caused significant changes in body weight, fat mass, and triglyceride compared with baseline. Consumption of hemp seeds alone caused a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein levels compared with baseline. At the end of the study, fat mass, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, and BDNF were significantly different between the groups. According to our results, aerobic PA combined with hemp seed consumption may improve anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and BDNF and improve health outcomes like cardiovascular comorbidities, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A sedentary lifestyle has numerous health-threatening consequences like cardiovascular comorbidities, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. The importance of physical activity (PA) in improving these clinical manifestations is well-known; however, the potential benefits of herbal therapy combined with PA in reducing the side effects of a sedentary lifestyle have not been well studied. In the current research, we evaluated the benefits of hemp seed alone and combined with aerobic exercise on metabolic markers, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors in young sedentary men for the first time. According to our results, aerobic PA combined with hemp seed consumption improved anthropometric indices, lipid profile, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor among young sedentary men.

Research Insights

Hemp Seed→Improved Balance
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Improved Insulin Levels
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Improved Insulin Sensitivity
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Increased Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Level
Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Increased Catalase Level
Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Increased Sit-ups
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Blood Cholesterol
At the end of the study, fat mass, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, and BDNF were significantly different between the groups.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Body Fat Mass
Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Body Mass Index
Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Body Weight
Aerobic PA with hemp seed consumption caused a significant difference in weight, body mass index, fat mass, high-density lipoprotein, catalase, and BDNF compared with baseline.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
At the end of the study, fat mass, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, and BDNF were significantly different between the groups.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Neuropeptide Y Level
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Reaction Time
Levels of anthropometric indices, dietary intake, antioxidant markers, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y (NPY), balance, reaction time, and sit-ups were evaluated for all participants at baseline and post-intervention.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)
Hemp Seed→Reduced Triglyceride Levels
Also, aerobic PA alone caused significant changes in body weight, fat mass, and triglyceride compared with baseline.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
2 g/day (two 1-g capsules daily)