ABSTRACT
         Background and Objectives: Elevated blood lipid levels are correlated with risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in overweight individuals. The beneficial effect of strength training on lipid profile has been well documented. However, the effect of strength training with flow blood restriction has not been established. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of eight weeks of strength training with and without blood flow restriction on some of the cardiovascular risk factors in overweight females.
         Methods: In this study, 28 overweight females aged 18 to 24 years were randomly assigned into three groups of blood flow restriction strength training (BFRT), traditional strength training (TRT) and control. Participants in the BFRT group performed eight weeks of strength training three sessions per week at 30% of 1-repetetion maximum, while participants in the TRT group performed the training at 65-80% of 1-repetetion maximum. Cardiovascular variables, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured before and after the exercise training. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance.
          Results: Triglyceride level decreased significantly in the BFRT (p=0.022) and TRT (p=0.038) groups compared with the control group. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the body mass, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and cholesterol levels between the study groups (P≥0.05).
           Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the BFRT and TRT may not be suitable for preventing or even reversing the physiological changes induced by obesity.
         Keywords: Resistance Training, Lipids, lipoprotein, overweight.

ABSTRACT
              Background and Objectives: Coronary heart disease has a direct correlation with plasma levels of Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and an inverse relationship with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level. This study aimed at comparing effect of eight weeks of aerobic training with and without green coffee supplementation on serum ApoB level and atherogenic indices of overweight men.
              Methods: Thirty overweight men were randomly divided into two groups: training + green coffee supplementation (T+G; n=15) and training + placebo (T+P; n=15). Participants in both groups performed aerobic training, three sessions per week for eight weeks. Initial exercise intensity was set at 50% of maximum heart rate but gradually increased to 75% of maximum heart rate in the last two weeks. In a single-blind design, the subjects in the T+G group received a 400 mg capsule of green coffee bean extract one hour before each exercise session. The T+P group received placebo at the same time. Paired sample t-test and independent t-test were used to compare intra-group and inter-group variations, respectively. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 22) at significance level of 0.05.
              Results: ApoB, LDL/HDL and total cholesterol/HDL decreased significantly in both groups. However, the changes were more notable in the T+G group compared to the T+P group.
              Conclusion: The eight-week training program along with green coffee supplementation has positive effects on serum ApoB and atherogenic indices of overweight, inactive men. Therefore, it can be suggested as a non-pharmacological method of preventing cardiovascular disease.
              Keywords: Aerobic exercise, green coffee, Overweight, Apolipoprotein b.