The Combined Intervention of Aqua Exercise and Burdock Extract Synergistically Improved Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

Figures

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  Figure 1. Study design. CON: placebo control, EX: exercise + placebo, BD: burdock, EXBD: exercise + burdock.

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  Figure 2. Effect of 16 weeks of aquatic aqua exercise and burdock intake on the blood pressure in older women with metabolic syndrome. (a) The systolic blood pressure in the BD group decreased after the 16-week intervention compared with the baseline values. (b) No significant changes were detected in the diastolic blood pressure in all groups. Furthermore, no significant differences in systolic (c) or diastolic (d) blood pressure variation were observed among the groups using one-way analysis of variance. Data are presented as the mean ± standard variation. † p < 0.05, significant; before vs. after intervention. SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; CON, placebo control, EX, exercise + placebo, BD, burdock, EXBD, exercise + burdock.

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  Figure 3. Effect of 16 weeks of aqua exercise and burdock intake on insulin resistance in older women with metabolic syndrome. After the intervention, compared with the baseline values, (a) glucose levels were decreased in the EX and EXBD groups, (b) insulin levels were decreased in the EX group, (c) the HOMA-IR was decreased in the EX group, and (d) the QUICKI was decreased in the CON group and increased in the EX group. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the variation in insulin resistance (e–h). Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. † p < 0.01, †† p < 0.01, ††† p < 0.001; before vs. after intervention. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 vs. CON, # p < 0.05 vs. BD. HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; QUICKI, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; CON, placebo control, EX, exercise + placebo, BD, burdock, EXBD, exercise + burdock.

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  Figure 4. Effect of 16 weeks of aqua exercise and burdock intake on vascular regulation factors in older women with metabolic syndrome. Compared with the baseline values, (a) PGI2 levels were increased in the EX group, and (b) TXA2 levels were decreased in the CON, EX, and EXBD groups after the 16-week intervention. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the variation in the levels of vascular regulation factors (c,d). Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. † p < 0.01, †† p < 0.01; before vs. after intervention. ** p < 0.01 vs. CON. PGI2, prostacyclin, i.e., prostaglandin I2; TXA2, thromboxane A2; CON, placebo control, EX, exercise + placebo, BD, burdock, EXBD, exercise + burdock.

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  Figure 5. Effect of 16 weeks of aqua exercise and burdock intake on arterial stiffness in older women with metabolic syndrome. Compared with the baseline values, after the 16-week intervention, (a) the AIx was decreased in the EXBD group and increased in the CON group, (b) the AIx@75 was decreased in the EXBD group, and (c) the PWV was increased in the EXBD group. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the variations in arterial stiffness (d–f). Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. † p < 0.01; before vs. after intervention. * p < 0.05 vs. CON, $ p < 0.05 vs. BD. AIx, augmentation index; AIx@75, heart rate-corrected augmentation index at 75 beats per min; PWV, pulse wave velocity; CON, placebo control, EX, exercise + placebo, BD, burdock, EXBD, exercise + burdock.