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Background and Objective: Hypertension is associated with changes in the structure and function of the vessels. This study was done to evaluate the effect of aerobic training with Garlic consumption on matrix metalloproteinase-3, 9 (MMP-3, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.
Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was done on 36 obese postmenopausal women with hypertension. Participants were randomly divided into 4 groups including control group, Garlic consumption, aerobic training and training with Garlic consumption. Subjects in training groups participated in a progressive aerobic training for eight weeks, three sessions a week (55% to 65% of the reserved heart rate and for 30 to 55 min). Garlic and training with Garlic groups consumed 1000 mg of garlic supplement for eight weeks (after breakfast and dinner). Two days before and after the protocol, blood samples were taken in fasting state.
Results: The level of MMP-3 and MMP-9 were significantly decreased in Garlic, aerobic training and training with Garlic groups in compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, the level of MMP-3 in the training with Garlic was significantly reduced in compared to the training and the Garlic groups (P<0.05). MMP-9 in the training with Garlic was significantly reduced in compared to the Garlic group (P<0.05). However, TIMP-1 level were significantly increased in the Garlic, training and training with Garlic in comparison with control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Aerobic training alone and in combination with Garlic affect on extracellular matrix thorough reduction of MMP-3, MMP-9 and increasing TIMP-1, improves systolic blood pressure in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.