Effect of one course endurance training and L-arginine supplementation on the coagulation system related factors in post-menopausal women with hypertension

Endurance training and L-arginine supplement play important role in hypertension management. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of one course endurance training and L-arginine supplementation on the coagulation system related factors in post-menopausal women with hypertension.

The 40 post-menopausal women’s (55.26±2.56 years old, body mass index: 28.61±1.18 kg/m2) with hypertension divided in placebo, L-arginine, training and training+L-arginine groups. Endurance training program conducted for 12 weeks with 60-75 percent of maximum heart rate. L-arginine consumption was 6 gr daily. Blood sampling performed in pre and post test (48 hours after last training session or L-arginine consumption) and plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), fibrinogen and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) levels were measured. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance test at the P<0.05 significance level.

The levels of PAI-1 in L-arginine, training and training+L-arginine groups compared to placebo group, also in training and training+L-arginine groups compared to L-arginine group significantly decreased. The levels of fibrinogen and ICAM-1 were also decreased significantly in training and training+L-arginine groups compared to placebo and L-arginine groups. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in L-arginine, training and training+L-arginine groups compared to placebo group, in training group compared to L-arginine group and in training+L-arginine group compared to training. Moreover, significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure in training and training+L-arginine groups compared to placebo group were observed.

L-arginine in addition to being effective in reducing systolic blood pressure and PAI-1 alone, can increase the effect of exercise training in decreasing systolic blood pressure. It seems that 12 weeks of L-arginine ingestion has no effect on the fibrinogen and ICAM-1 and decrease in blood pressure occurs independently of these factors.