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Exercise intensity modulates nitric oxide and blood pressure responses in hypertensive older women

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Abstract

Background and aims

Whether intensity or other characteristics of physical activity can better promote the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive older-adults is still unknown. In this study, the post-exercise blood pressure (BP) response and NO release after different intensities of aerobic exercise in elderly women were analyzed.

Methods

Blood pressure response and NO were analyzed in 23 elderly mildly hypertensive women. Participants underwent (1) high-intensity incremental exercise (IT); (2) moderate-intensity 20 min exercise at 90 % of the anaerobic threshold (AT), and (3) control (CONT) session. BP was measured before and after interventions; volunteers remained seated for 1 h. NO estimates were made through NO2 − analyses.

Results

After CONT session, both diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly higher than during pre-exercise resting. Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) was observed after exercise at IT and 90 % of AT. Although exercise in both sessions lowered SBP and MAP compared with CONT, exercise at the highest intensity (IT) was more effective on lowering systolic BP after exercise. In comparison with pre-exercise resting, NO2 − increased significantly only after IT, but both exercise sessions caused NO2 − to increase compared with CONT.

Conclusion

Exercise intensity and NO release may exert a role in eliciting PEH in mildly hypertensive elderly women.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by CNPq grants (#484318/2006-3 to O.T. Nóbrega and #478946/2008-2 to H.G. Simões). Drs. H.G. Simões, O.T. Nóbrega and A.C. Sposito were supported by fellowships for productivity in research from CNPq. The authors would like to thank Vanessa Neves de Oliveira (Department of Morphology, UFJF and Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry, UFU) for helping in the analyses.

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Physical Education and Health, Catholic University of Brasília, Q.S. 07, lote 01, EPCT, Águas Claras, Taguatinga, Brasília, DF, CEP 71966-700, Brazil

    Hugo A. P. Santana, Sérgio R. Moreira, Ricardo Y. Asano, Marcelo M. Sales, Cláudio Córdova, Carmen S. G. Campbell & Herbert G. Simões

  2. Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Foued S. Espindola

  3. Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Andrei C. Sposito

  4. Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Otávio T. Nóbrega

Authors
  1. Hugo A. P. Santana
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  2. Sérgio R. Moreira
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  3. Ricardo Y. Asano
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  4. Marcelo M. Sales
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  5. Cláudio Córdova
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  6. Carmen S. G. Campbell
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  7. Foued S. Espindola
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  8. Andrei C. Sposito
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  9. Otávio T. Nóbrega
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  10. Herbert G. Simões
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hugo A. P. Santana or Herbert G. Simões.

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Santana, H.A.P., Moreira, S.R., Asano, R.Y. et al. Exercise intensity modulates nitric oxide and blood pressure responses in hypertensive older women. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 43–48 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0017-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0017-x

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