The effect of resistance training on blood pressure, apelin, ANP, PON1, adiponectin, H2O2, and ET-1 in hypertensive men

 Primary hypertension, an unexplained increase in blood pressure (BP), accounts for 90% of the cases of hypertension and remains a critical public health challenge. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12-week resistance training (RT) on some vasodilators and vasoconstrictors in hypertensive men.

 This is a semi-experimental study. A total of 40 middle-aged men (45.3±3.2 years) with moderate hypertension (systolic BP [SBP] 140.5±0.3 and diastolic BP [DBP] 90.7±0.0 mm Hg) were randomly divided into the RT (n=20) and non-exercise control (n=20) groups. The 12-week dynamic RT program was performed at an intensity of 80% of one repetition maximum for 3 days per week (3 sets of 8 repetitions/3 days a week). Blood samples were taken from both groups at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12.

 SBP and DBP decreased by -8.19±2.46 mm Hg (P=0.039) and -1.19±0.02 mm Hg (P=0.033) from baseline at week 12 in the RT group, respectively, compared to the control group (SBP; 8.22±2.49, P=0.04; DBP; -1.19±0.03, P=0.032). Adiponectin, apelin, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) serum levels increased from baseline at weeks 8 (P=0.01) and 12 (P=0.01), while endothelin-1 (ET-1) and H2 O2 decreased from baseline at weeks 8 (P=0.01) and 12 (P=0.01) in the RT in comparison to the control group.

 Overall, 12-week RT led to an increase in apelin, ANP, PON-1, and adiponectin. Increasing these markers reduces H2 O2 and ET-1, thus decreasing SBP and DBP in hypertensive men.