EFFECTS OF FENUGREEK (trigonella foneum-graecum l.) SUPPLEMENT AND RESISTANCE EXERCISE ON BODY COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH OF WOLLO UNIVERSITY SPORT SCIENCE STUDENTS, AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum L. supplementation demonstrated beneficial effects in male subjects during resistance training with no clinical side effects (Constancio et al., 2009). The purpose of this study was to assess the combined effects of eight weeks Fenugreek supplementation and resistance exercise on strength and body composition of Wollo University second-year male sport science students. Thirty (30) undergraduate second-year sport science students free from any health problems, with the age of 19 – 26 years were selected through purposive sampling technique. The selected subjects were divided into 2 group, consisting of 15 (control) and 15 (experimental) subjects. While the experimental group of the subjects underwent 8 weeks of fenugreek supplement and resistance exercises program for three days per week and 40-minutes duration in each training day, the control group continued a similar 8 weeks resistance excises for three days per week with 40-minutes duration. Pre-test and post-tests were conducted for body composition (fat percentage and BMI) and strength (chest press 1RM and leg press 1RM) test. The data collected from subjects were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The result of this study showed that % body fat and BMI result from pre to post-test were changed significantly for the experimental group (MD,1.07733) for BMI and (MD,0.73533) for % body fat. Whereas little changes were noted for the control group (MD,0.36000) for BMI and (MD,0.23333) for % body fat thus spotted the non-significant changes. The result from pre to post-test chest press 1RM and leg press 1RM test marked a significant change (MD,7.00238) for chest press 1RM and (MD,2.24817) for leg press 1RM in the experimental group. Whereas little changes were observed (MD,2.20800) for chest press 1RM and (MD,2.52329) for leg press 1RM in the control group. It is concluded that 8-weeks of fenugreek consumption combined with resistance exercise has a significant effect on improving body composition and strength of sport science students of Wollo University. Based on the above test result alternative hypothesis was accepted while the null hypothesis was rejected.