INTRODUCTION: Proper immune function and healthy bone is required for
maintaining daily routine of an individual. To date, no study has been carried out to
investigate possible benefits of Moringa oleifera supplementation combined with
resistance exercise on immune responses and bone turnover markers among young
men. PURPOSE: Therefore, the present study was carried out to determine the effects
of Moringa oleifera supplementation combined with resistance exercise (MOEx)
compared to Moringa oleifera supplementation alone (MO), resistance exercise alone
(Ex) and control (C) groups on immune responses and bone turnover markers among
young men. METHODS: Forty sedentary young men (age: 22.1 ± 1.3 years old) were
recruited and were randomised into four separate groups: placebo without exercise
control (C), resistance exercise alone (Ex), Moringa oleifera supplementation alone
(MO) and resistance exercise with Moringa oleifera supplementation (MOEx).
Participants in the Ex and MOEx groups performed resistance exercise 3 times per
week for 6 weeks which consisted of 10 different exercises. Participants were required
to perform 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions of resistance exercise per set. Participants in the
MO and MOEx groups consumed Moringa oleifera (300 mg of 100% Moringa
oleifera leaf powder each capsule) and participants in the C and Ex groups consumed
placebo twice daily for 6 weeks. Participants’ body height, weight, blood pressure andresting heart rate were measured at pre- and post-tests. Blood samples were collected
at pre- and post-tests after an overnight fast. Blood samples were used to analyse total
WBC, lymphocytes, monocyte, T lymphocyte (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) and B
lymphocyte (CD19+) counts. Blood samples were also used to analyse concentrations
of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and cross-linked C-terminal
telopeptide of collagen alpha-1 (1CTP). A mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) was
performed to determine the significance of the differences between and within groups.
RESULTS: It was found that combination of resistance exercise and Moringa oleifera
did not significantly (p > 0.05) induce better effects on immune responses and bone
turnover markers concentration compared to control, resistance exercise alone, and
MO supplementation alone. CONCLUSION: Six weeks of combined MO
supplementation and resistance exercise did not significantly enhance immune
responses and bone turnover markers among sedentary young men