METHODS: Forty-eight young female college students were assigned into four groups: i) 16S (16 weeks of sedentary activity); ii) 8E×8S (8 weeks of exercise followed by 8 weeks of sedentary activity); iii) 8H8S (8 weeks of honey supplementation followed by 8 weeks of sedentary activity) and iv) 8E×H8S (8 weeks of combined exercise and honey supplementation followed by 8 weeks of sedentary activity). Blood samples were collected from the participants prior to the intervention, at week 8 and at week 16 for the analysis of bone metabolism markers and antioxidant status.
RESULTS: At the mid test, bone speed of sound (SOS) (P < 0.01), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P < 0.001) and serum osteocalcin (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in the 8E×H8S group as compared to 16S group. After 8 weeks of cessation of exercise and honey supplementation, bone SOS was also significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the 8E×H8S group as compared to 16S group. In addition, the serum total calcium (P < 0.001), serum ALP (P < 0.01), total antioxidant status (TAS) (P < 0.01) and glutathione (GSH) (P < 0.01) in the 8E×H8S group were significantly higher at the post-test as compared to their respective pre-test values.
CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that there was improved maintenance of the beneficial effects induced by 8 weeks of combined exercise and honey supplementation on bone properties and the antioxidant status after 8 weeks of cessation of exercise and honey supplementation as compared to exercise and honey supplementation alone.