Aerobic Exercise Training Decreases Plasma Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Concentrations With Increase in Arterial Compliance in Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: American journal of hypertension Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 415 - 421
• Main Authors: Tanahashi, Koichiro, Akazawa, Nobuhiko, Miyaki, Asako, Choi, Youngju, Ra, Song-Gyu, Matsubara, Tomoko, Kumagai, Hiroshi, Oikawa, Satoshi, Maeda, Seiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Aged; Arginine - analogs & derivatives; Arginine - blood; Biomarkers - blood; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - physiology; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Circulatory system; Compliance; Down-Regulation; Exercise; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Japan; Middle Aged; Physical fitness; Plasma; Postmenopause - blood; Time Factors; Vascular Stiffness; asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA); blood pressure; aging; arterial compliance; aerobic exercise training; hypertension
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1941-7225
• DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpt217

BACKGROUND Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, increase with advancing age and menopausal status. ADMA plays a role in endothelial dysfunction and increasing arterial stiffness. Regular aerobic exercise has a positive effect on arterial function (i.e., arterial compliance). This study investigated the effects of aerobic exercise training on plasma ADMA concentrations and arterial compliance in postmenopausal women. METHODS Thirty postmenopausal women were divided into 2 groups: an exercise group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 10). Subjects in the exercise group completed 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training (65%-80% of maximal heart rate, 40-60min/day, 3-6 days/week). Before and after each intervention, plasma ADMA concentrations and carotid arterial compliance were measured in all participants. RESULTS The baseline plasma ADMA concentrations, carotid arterial compliance, and most other key dependent variables did not differ between the 2 groups. In the exercise group, carotid arterial compliance significantly increased after exercise intervention (P < 0.01), and plasma ADMA concentrations significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, changes in carotid arterial compliance after the exercise intervention were inversely correlated with changes in plasma ADMA concentrations (r = −0.367; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that aerobic exercise training significantly decreased plasma ADMA concentrations with increase in carotid arterial compliance in postmenopausal women. These results suggest that reduction in ADMA may play an important role in the aerobic exercise training-induced increase in arterial compliance.