The effect of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise on plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor 23, Angiotensin converting enzyme and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive elderly women

Increased serum levels of FGF23 is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. Increased serum ACE probably plays a role in cardiovascular disease and negatively affects the structure and function of cardiac muscle and leads to an induction of pathologic concentric hypertrophy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks aerobic exercise on plasma FGF23, ACE and left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive elderly women.
In this study, 20 elderly women aged 50 to 70 years old were randomly chosen and and divided into two groups (control and aerobic exercise) based on body fat percentage and body mass index. Exercise program included increasingly aerobic exercise, performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Before starting the training and 24 hours after the last training session, blood samples were taken and cardiac echocardiography was conducted. Data were evaluated using t-test analysis at the significance level of P According to the results, the significant changes in left ventricular wall thickness (p=0/0001), and the level of ACE were observed between pre-test and post-test of the aerobic training group (p=0/0001); while there was no significant difference among FGF23 of the aerobic exercise and control groups.
The results of this study demonstrated that aerobic exercise has a positive effect on heart function and serum levels of ACE, and can potentially reverse cardiac dysfunction associated with left ventricular hypertrophy.