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Effect of aerobic exercise training on blood pressure sensitivity to dietary sodium in older hypertensives

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 20, pages 372–378 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Although aerobic exercise training has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in older adults, its effect on BP sensitivity to dietary sodium (Na+) is unknown. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the effect of aerobic exercise training on BP sensitivity to dietary Na+ in older hypertensive individuals. Blood pressure was measured after 8 days of low (20?mEq) and high (200?mEq) Na+ diets in 31 older (63±7 years, mean±standard deviation), hypertensive (152±11/88±5?mm Hg) individuals at baseline and following 6 months of aerobic exercise training (at 75% VO2max, 3 times/week, 40?min/session). Subjects were grouped on the basis of the difference in mean arterial BP (MAP) between diets (Na+ sensitive: ⩾5?mm Hg increase in MAP on high Na+, n=20; Na+ resistant: <5?mm Hg increase in MAP on the high Na+ diet, n=11). Following 6 months of aerobic exercise training, there was a significant increase in maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max: 18.3±3.8 vs 20.7±4.2?ml/kg/min, P<0.017). Aerobic exercise training had a significant (P=0.02) effect on Na+ sensitivity status, with the proportion of Na+-resistant individuals increasing from 35% at baseline to 61% following the 6-month aerobic exercise training programme. This study demonstrates the importance of physical activity on BP sensitivity to dietary Na+.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the subjects who volunteered and the nursing and dietary staffs at the University of Michigan General Clinical Research Center for their assistance with the research studies, and Marla Smith for her technical assistance. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Research Scientist Development Award in Aging KO1 AG0072301 (DRD), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Research Service (MAS) and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (DRD, MAS) at Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Claude D Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (AG-08808) and University of Michigan Clinical Research Center (RR-00042).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    D R Dengel

  2. GRECC, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    D R Dengel & M A Kuskowski

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    M D Brown, T H Reynolds & M A Supiano

  4. GRECC, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    M D Brown, T H Reynolds & M A Supiano

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  1. D R Dengel
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  2. M D Brown
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  3. T H Reynolds
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  4. M A Kuskowski
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  5. M A Supiano
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Correspondence to D R Dengel.

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Dengel, D., Brown, M., Reynolds, T. et al. Effect of aerobic exercise training on blood pressure sensitivity to dietary sodium in older hypertensives. J Hum Hypertens 20, 372–378 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001989

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