Effects of endurance training and six weeks of ginseng supplementation on serum vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor in unathletes female students

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six weeks of endurance training and ginseng supplement consumption on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor levels in unathletes female student. Materials and Methods: In this study, 32 unathlete female students of Gorgan University (Iran) with the mean age of 20 &plusmn;2 years were randomly divided into endurance, endurance and ginseng, ginseng and control groups. Endurance training consisted of six weeks training with three sessions per week and each session was 70 minutes. The program of intermittent running was with intensity of 60-80% maximum heart rate. Ginseng extract was orally consumed (5 mg/kg/day for six weeks). Results: No significant effects of six weeks of endurance training together with ginseng supplement were found on the levels of VEGF (P<0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the levels of PDGF before and after of training in endurance training (P=0.015), endurance training- ginseng (P=0.004) and ginseng (P=0.016) groups. Also, there was a significant differences in the levels of PDGF between study groups (P=0.000). The levels of PDGF in the endurance training&nbsp; group was significantly different with endurance training-Ginseng (P=0.000), and ginseng (P=0.002), but no difference was observed in the levels of PDGF between control and endurance training (P=0.271). Conclusion: It seems that endurance training may improve the process of angiogenesis. Furthermore, ginseng supplement may influence the levels angiogenic factor