ABSTRACT
         Background and Objectives: Elevated blood lipid levels are correlated with risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in overweight individuals. The beneficial effect of strength training on lipid profile has been well documented. However, the effect of strength training with flow blood restriction has not been established. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of eight weeks of strength training with and without blood flow restriction on some of the cardiovascular risk factors in overweight females.
         Methods: In this study, 28 overweight females aged 18 to 24 years were randomly assigned into three groups of blood flow restriction strength training (BFRT), traditional strength training (TRT) and control. Participants in the BFRT group performed eight weeks of strength training three sessions per week at 30% of 1-repetetion maximum, while participants in the TRT group performed the training at 65-80% of 1-repetetion maximum. Cardiovascular variables, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured before and after the exercise training. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance.
          Results: Triglyceride level decreased significantly in the BFRT (p=0.022) and TRT (p=0.038) groups compared with the control group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the body mass, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol levels between the study groups (P≥0.05).
           Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the BFRT and TRT may not be suitable for preventing or even reversing the physiological changes induced by obesity.
         Keywords: Resistance Training, Lipids, lipoprotein, overweight.

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objective: It is desirable for athletes, especially female soccer players, to consume beetroot beverage during training as a way of improving both health and performance ,. Therefore, the objective of this study was to  assess the effect of beetroot juice intake on lipid profile in female soccer players.
            Methods: Young and well-trained female soccer players (N=20) were  included in a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study. They were categorized into two groups: experimental (beetroot beverage, n=10, age: 23.20±0.91 years, BMI: 22.57±1.54(kg/m²)) and control (placebo, n=10, age: 23±0.81 years, BMI: 23.13±0.58(kg/m²)). Subjects drank either 200 ml concentrated beetroot beverage or an equal amount of placebo 2 hours prior to their trainings for six weeks (18 session). Blood samples were taken 24 hours before and after trials. All data were compared in pretest and posttest  via paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test. All statistical analyses were performed at (P≤0.05) by SPSS (version22).
            Results: Beetroot juice intake increased plasma high density lipoprotein (t= -60.88, P<0.05). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein were  reduced (P<0.05). Compared with placebo, beetroot  juice reduced the concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (P<0.05).
            Conclusion: Regular beetroot juice intake has significant effects on lipid profile in female soccer players, hence its suggestion for preventing diseases such as  hypercholesterolemia and  hypertension in female soccer players.
            Key words: Soccer, Training, Dietary Supplements, Lipids.