Aim:This study was conducted to examine the effects of aerobic exercise training on psychosocial aspects (mental health, the aspects of physical symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social functioning, and depression) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:53 men who had type 2 diabetes mellitus for a mean duration of the disease for 3±5 years were selected purposely and classified randomly into experimental (27 patients) and a control group (26 patients). Patients in the experimental group did aerobic exercise training three times a week for eight weeks. The exercise included an aerobic activity for 45 to 60 minutes during which the patients’ heart rates were maintained at 60-70 percent of heart rate reserve on ergo meter bikes.Results:The eight-week aerobic exercise training had significant effects on mental health (p = 0.002), subscales of physical symptoms (p = 0.006), and anxiety and insomnia (p = 0.001). It had no significant effects on subscales related to disorder of social functioning (p = 0.117) and depression (p = 0.657).Conclusions:Aerobic exercise training can be considered as an appropriate program for improving the health of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it also can improve their mental health.

BackgroundSo far, there have been a few and incoherent results about the effects of physical activities. Fasting in Ramadan has an effect on the level of osmolarity and the concentration of serum electrolytes both in active and inactive females.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to observe the changes of serum electrolytes and osmolarity levels according to regular exercise during fasting.Patients and MethodsTwenty two healthy females who were elected by convenience sampling method were divided into two groups: 1) fasting + exercise (FE; n = 11) and 2) fasting + non exercise (FNE; n = 15). The FE group participated in aerobic training for four sessions per week during the fasting. All measurements were done once before the first day, on the second week, on the fourth week and two weeks after fasting month and these measures were used to analyze test results.ResultsThe mean differences were as follows: significant weight loss, BMI, WHR, in two groups at the end of Ramadan (P < 0.05). The mean of weight, BMI, WHR, body fat, protein, mineral and total water showed no difference between groups (P > 0.05). Potassium, creatinine, urea and uric acid had been decreased significantly in both groups (P < 0.05). Variance between groups was significant only in variable urea (P < 0.05). Variations within group had been changed in FBS; sodium, phosphorus and osmolarity levels were not changed significantly.ConclusionsAccording to this result, regular exercise in case of fasting in Ramadan led to some changes in serum osmolarity index, electrolytes and water. Therefore, it is important for female athletes to consider applying a suitable nutritious diet and sufficient water consumption during Ramadan

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Under difficult conditions, the military need high-energy macronutrients and micronutrients during intense physical activities in order to achieve optimal fitness levels. Objectives: This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the effects of a designed compact food bar (CFB) on the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2Max) and physical fitness in military athletes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 50 athletes aged 20-50 years, who were assigned into two experimental and control groups. The subjects in the compact food bar (CFB) received three packs of CFB (700 kcal each), containing functional compounds (e.g., caffeine and L-arginine), every day for 10 days. The control group consumed the regular food used in military training courses with the same daily calorie count for the same period. The exercise performance was assessed using sports tests, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2Max) as a measure of cardio-respiratory endurance in vitro, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, blood pressure, and anthropometric examinations based on the participants' body composition and physical activity. The measurements were performed using a pedometer, and the data were recorded at baseline and after the intervention. The data was then analyzed in SPSS software version 16. Results: VO2Max and some of the exercise tests, including push-up, sit-and-reach test, and jump pair length, revealed significant increases in CFB group, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, the concerned variable seemed to have no significant effects on the anthropometric indices (weight and body mass index) and body composition (lean body mass and body fat mass) in CFB group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: According to the findings, the consumption of the proposed CFB, in comparison to regular food, could effectively improve the exercise performance in military athletes.