The Effects of Turmeric Intake Alone or in Combination with Resistance Training on Liver Enzymes in Adult Men

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of turmeric intake alone or in combination with resistance training on liver enzymes in adult men who regularly consumed alcohol at least twice a week.METHODS: Twelve men (age: 36.0±5.26 years, weight: 99.9±17.9 kg, and height: 184.0±6.5 cm) were randomly assigned to the turmeric intake (2-3 g/day) alone (TI, n=6) group or the TI plus resistance training (60 minutes of RT 3 times a week) (TI+RT, n=6) group for 8 weeks. Blood was collected before and after 8 weeks of treatment. The analyzed variables included glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GTP), and GOT/GPT ratio.RESULTS:There was no significant interaction effect in all variables, but the main effect was found in all variables only in TI+RT group. The Cohen’s d effect size on the main effects of the TI+RT group on GOT (d=0.548), GPT (d=0.835), γ-GTP (d=0.623), and GOT/GPT ratio (d=0.800) ranged from 0.548-0.835, respectively. However, body composition such as percent body fat (%, <i>p</i>>.05) and muscle mass (kg, <i>p</i>>.05) did not show the main effect on time points as well as the interaction effect (<i>p</i>>.05).CONCLUSIONS:Although the 8-week TI treatment did not show any statistically significant change, TI treatment showed a tendency to decrease in GOT, GPT, and γ-GTP, and the GOT/GPT ratio tends to increase. Therefore, there was a synergic effect of the TI plus RT treatment or the sum of the two treatments for 8 weeks.