The effect of resistance training on blood pressure, apelin, ANP, PON۱, adiponectin, H۲O۲, and ET-۱ in hypertensive men

Background and aims: Primary hypertension, an unexplained increase in blood pressure (BP), accounts for ۹۰% of the cases of hypertension and remains a critical public health challenge. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ۱۲-week resistance training (RT) on some vasodilators and vasoconstrictors in hypertensive men. Methods: This is a semi-experimental study. A total of ۴۰ middle-aged men (۴۵.۳±۳.۲ years) with moderate hypertension (systolic BP [SBP] ۱۴۰.۵±۰.۳ and diastolic BP [DBP] ۹۰.۷±۰.۰ mm Hg) were randomly divided into the RT (n=۲۰) and non-exercise control (n=۲۰) groups. The ۱۲-week dynamic RT program was performed at an intensity of ۸۰% of one repetition maximum for ۳ days per week (۳ sets of ۸ repetitions/۳ days a week). Blood samples were taken from both groups at baseline and weeks ۴, ۸, and ۱۲. Results: SBP and DBP decreased by -۸.۱۹±۲.۴۶ mm Hg (P=۰.۰۳۹) and -۱.۱۹±۰.۰۲ mm Hg (P=۰.۰۳۳) from baseline at week ۱۲ in the RT group, respectively, compared to the control group (SBP; ۸.۲۲±۲.۴۹, P=۰.۰۴; DBP; -۱.۱۹±۰.۰۳, P=۰.۰۳۲). Adiponectin, apelin, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and paraoxonase-۱ (PON-۱) serum levels increased from baseline at weeks ۸ (P=۰.۰۱) and ۱۲ (P=۰.۰۱), while endothelin-۱ (ET-۱) and H۲ O۲ decreased from baseline at weeks ۸ (P=۰.۰۱) and ۱۲ (P=۰.۰۱) in the RT in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Overall, ۱۲-week RT led to an increase in apelin, ANP, PON-۱, and adiponectin. Increasing these markers reduces H۲ O۲ and ET-۱, thus decreasing SBP and DBP in hypertensive men.