The Effect of Aerobic Training with Vitamin C Supplementation on Myeloperoxidase, Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine and Blood Pressure in Middle-Age Hypertensive Overweight Men

Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension are global health concerns.

The purpose of this study was the effect of intensive aerobic training with vitamin C supplementation on myeloperoxidase (MPO), asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), and blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive men.

Forty hypertensive men (age: 44.6 ± 3.5 y, body mass index: 28.2 ± 1.2 kg.m-2) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into four groups of aerobic training with vitamin C (ATV; N = 10), aerobic training with placebo (ATP; N = 10), vitamin C group (VC; N = 10) and control (Con; N = 10). The exercise training consisted of running training, which was done three times a week for 10 weeks, with the intensity of 75% - 85% HR max, and the duration of 20 - 45 minutes. ATP and VC groups consumed daily 500 mg of vitamin C or placebo. Fasting blood samples were measured before the start training protocol and 24 hour after last training sessions to measure MPO and ADMA in the serum.

The results of present study showed that ADMA and BP were significantly decreased only in ATV and ATP (P ≤ 0.05). However, MPO did not change significantly (P > 0.05). Also, were seen that no significant difference between ATV and ATP groups (P > 0.05).

It can be concluded that, aerobic training caused to decrease of dimethyl arginine, that can be a good strategy for control or decrease of blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, however intensive aerobic training with vitamin C may have better efficacy.