Overweight and obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer. In contrast, physical regular activity has been suggested to help increase the survival of individuals with breast cancer. However, few studies have assessed effect of individually and combined Zingiber officinale (as a anti-inflammatory factor) with water-based exercise on the pro-inflammatory markers and blood lipid levels in overweight women with breast cancer and results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine the individual and concomitant effect of 6-wks water-based exercise and oral Zingiber officinale supplement on the aforesaid markers in overweight women with breast cancer. Forty women diagnosed with breast cancer(48±5.4 years, 76±9 kg, fat mass 41.8±4 %), volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned into four groups; placebo, water-based exercise, Zingiber officinale and water-based exercise + Zingiber officinale groups. Subjects in the Zingiber officinale group and the exercise training+ Zingiber officinale group orally received 4 capsules (each capsule contained 750 mg), 7 days a week and for 6 weeks. The water-based exercise program were collected at a progressive intensity and time, ranged from 50% to 75% of heart rate reserve, in a pool with 15 meters width, 4 times a week for 6 weeks. Fasting blood sampling was collected at the pretest and post-test. The Zingiber officinale supplementation and or the water-base exercise resulted in a reduction of hs-CRP, IL-6 and TG, as compared to pretest. However, the combined intervention (water-base exercise and Zingiber officinale) group showed significantly a far better effect on the markers of pro-inflammatory and blood lipids, as compared to the water-base exercise or Zingiber officinale supplement alone groups and the age-matched placebo group. Our findings indicate a protective effect of the nondrug strategies such as water-base exercise and anti-inflammatory herbal factors such as; Zingiber officinale in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and metabolic responses in overweight women diagnosed with breast cancer.
