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Effect of ingestion of <i>Garcinia kola</i> on post exercise respiratory rate adjustment time during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle


A Omorogiuwa
E.O. Aihie

Abstract

Garcinia kola and the hormone progesterone have been studied to have a bronchodilatory effect which comes in handy during exercise. This study evaluates the possible effect of ingestion of Garcinia kola on the time it takes for respiratory rate to return to steady state values after exercise during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. Sixty-four healthy volunteers in equally divided proportions in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle were studied. Their serum progesterone concentrations and base line respiratory rates were measured using standard procedures. Subjects in each of the two groups were further divided equally into four subgroups each with the first sub groups not given Garcinia kola seed and the remaining three groups given the seeds to chew at doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively. 90 minutes post ingestion; they were exposed to exercise for 35 minutes. The respiratory rates of subjects were recorded every minute until they returned to baseline values. Results were presented as mean ± SD, p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Both phases of the menstrual cycle had an improved respiratory rate adjustment time with increasing doses of Garcinia kola (p < 0.05).In terms of time, the luteal phase (7.36± 0.74) had a better respiratory rate adjustment (p < 0.05) compared to the follicular phase (10.13± 0.35). Ingestion of Garcinia kola seeds was shown to have a favourable respiratory rate adjustment after exercise and this was improved further in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Keywords: Garcina kola, Menstrual cycle, Follicular, Luteal, Exercise, Respiratory rate


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eISSN: 1118-1931
print ISSN: 1118-1931