Effects of High-Intensity Intermittent Training Combined with Asparagus officinalis Extract Supplementation on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function Parameters in Obese and Overweight Individuals: A Randomized Control Trial

Background/Objectives: High-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) has been proven to improve cardio-metabolic and respiratory health outcomes. In addition, 20-hydroxyecdysone from plant extracts has been studied for its anabolic effects. However, studies examining these two interventions in individuals who are obese or overweight are limited. This study, thus, examined the effects of HIIT combined with Asparagus officinalis (A. officinalis) extract supplementation on cardiovascular and pulmonary function parameters in obese and overweight individuals. Methods: Seventy-two obese and overweight participants were randomized into four groups (n = 18 each): the control (CON) group, HIIT group (HIIT for 3 days/week), AOE (A. officinalis extract) group (supplementation with 20E at 1.71 mg/kg/day), and HIIT+AOE group. Pre- and 12-week post-intervention measures included heart rate (HR), HR variability, endothelial function, blood pressure (BP), BP variability, pulmonary function and volume, respiratory muscle strength, chest expansion, and body composition. Results: The high-frequency power of HR variability was higher (p=0.038) and the low-frequency–high-frequency ratio was lower in the HIIT+AOE group (p=0.038) compared to the CON group. Peak blood flow increased in both the HIIT (p=0.03) and HIIT+AOE (p=0.028) groups, but only the HIIT group had a shorter vascular recovery time (p=0.048) compared to the CON group. Similarly, maximum expiratory pressure was increased in both the HIIT and HIIT+AOE groups compared to the CON group (p=0.029 and p=0.041). In addition, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, the percent-predicted FEV1/FVC, and chest wall expansion were higher in the HIIT+AOE group than in the CON group (p=0.047, p=0.038, and p = 0.001). In addition, the waist-to-hip ratio was lower in the HIIT+AOE group than in the CON group (p= 0.043). There were no significant differences in HR, BP, BP variability, or pulmonary volume parameters among groups. Conclusions: The combination of HIIT with A. officinalis extract supplementation markedly improves HR variability. Moreover, it also greatly improves expiratory muscle strength, chest wall expansion, pulmonary function, and body composition parameters in obese and overweight individuals.