The Effects of Body Weight Circuit Training with Supplementation on Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Elderly Women

This study examined the effects of body weight circuit training combined with beta-glucan supplementation on body composition, physical fitness, and cardiometabolic risk factors in elderly women. Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to either an exercise group with beta-glucan supplementation (EG, n=9) or an exercise-only control group (CG, n=9). Both groups completed the same body weight circuit training program twice weekly for 4 weeks. After the intervention, no significant between-group differences were observed in body weight, muscle mass, fat mass, or body mass index. However, the waist-to-hip ratio significantly decreased in the EG compared with the CG. Physical fitness variables, including grip strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, balance, and walking performance, showed significant improvements in the EG, with significant between-group difference observed in trunk flexion and 10 m obstacle walking test. Among cardiometabolic risk factors, homocysteine levels significantly increased in the CG but remained stable in the EG. These findings suggest that body weight circuit training may effectively improve physical fitness in elderly women. Furthermore, when combined with beta-glucan supplementation, it may have the potential to provide additional benefits in terms of improving abdominal fat distribution and maintaining metabolic stability.