Effect of Eight Weeks Resistance Training with Citrulline-Malate Supplementation on Blood Pressure, Serum Nitric Oxide and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Resting Serum and Response to Physical Activity in Postmenopausal Women with Prehypertension

The purpose of this study was effect of eight weeks of resistance training with citrulline-malate supplementation on blood pressure, serum nitric oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor in in rest rate and response to physical activity in postmenopausal women with prehypertension. 42 postmenopausal women (Age: 53.17 ± 1.82-year, height: 158.91 ± 1.86 centimeter, BMI: 28.79 ± 1.71 kg/m2) with prehypertension (with an average systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 mmHg) were randomly assigned into six groups: exercise + supplements, exercise + placebo, exercise, untrained, supplemented, supplemented, and placebo. Resistance training includes 7 moves and was performed three times, every move three sets of 12-10 reps for week with intensity %45-%55 of 1RM for 8 weeks. Supplementation included 8 grams of Citrulline-Malate one hour before exercise. Measurements in 4 times before and after exercise, blood pressure, NO and VEGF were measured using a barometer and kit. ANOVA test, Tukey post-hoc test and dependent t-test were used for analyzing the data at a significantly level 0.05. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests were used for the significant level (P < 0.05). The results showed that consumption of citrulline-malate was effective in decreasing systolic, diastolic blood pressure and NO in response to endurance activity. However, eight weeks of training had no significantly effect on the reduction of systolic, diastolic and increased NO and VEGF in response to endurance activity. Also, resistance training with citrulline-malate as effective in decreasing systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and increased NO and VEGF in response to endurance activity. It seems that the effect of exercise+ supplements on the reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to submaximal endurance activity, these favorable effects were associated with an increase in NO and VEGF levels.