The effect of 8 weeks of combined interval (resistance-interval training) and combined endurance (endurance-resistance training) on plasma levels of adropin and nitric oxide in males with high blood pressure

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) is a vasodilator that plays an important role in blood pressure control. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of 8 weeks of resistance-interval and endurance-resistance trainings on plasma levels of adropin and NO in males with hypertension. Method: Forty-five patients with hypertension were recruited and divided into 3 groups of control (age = 51.1 ± 6.4 years, body mass = 80.4 ± 9.2 kg), resistance-interval training (age = 50.7 ± 5.5 years, body mass = 78.1 ± 11 kg), and endurance-resistance training (age = 52.8 ± 6.1 years, body mass = 79.6 ± 9.2 kg). The resistance training program was performed in 2 sets, 10 to 15 repetitions, with 50% intensity of one repetition maximum. Increasing endurance training was performed for 30–40 min at 60–70% of maximum heart rate (HR_max) on the bike. The high-intensity interval training program consisted of 4 intervals of 80 to 90% of HR_max and 3-min recovery periods of 60 to 70% of HR_max. Blood samples were collected 1 week before the start of the training program and 48 h after the last training session. Plasma levels of adropin and nitrite/nitrate were measured by ELISA before and after the exercise interventions. Results: Eight weeks of resistance-interval and endurance-resistance trainings increased plasma levels of adropin and NO and decreased blood pressure (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, plasma levels of adropin increased in both exercise groups, whereas NO levels increased only in the endurance-resistance training. Systolic blood pressure decreased in the resistance-interval training (P ≤ 0.05) while it remained unchanged in the endurance-resistance group. Conclusion: Resistance-interval and endurance-resistance trainings are effective in decreasing blood pressure by increasing cardiorespiratory capacity and plasma levels of adropin and NO.