Effects of 12 Weeks of Combined Exercise Training in Normobaric Hypoxia on Arterial Stiffness, Inflammatory Biomarkers, and Red Blood Cell Hemorheological Function in Obese Older Women.

Park, Wonil; Park, Hun-Young; Kim, Sung-Woo

Background/Objectives: The present study examined the effect of 12-week combined exercise training in normobaric hypoxia on arterial stiffness, inflammatory biomarkers, and red blood cell (RBC) hemorheological function in 24 obese older women (mean age: 67.96 ± 0.96 years). Methods: Subjects were randomly divided into two groups (normoxia (NMX; n = 12) and hypoxia (HPX; n = 12)). Both groups performed aerobic and resistance exercise training programs three times per week for 12 weeks, and the HPX group performed exercise programs in hypoxic environment chambers during the intervention period. Body composition was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis equipment. Arterial stiffness was measured using an automatic waveform analyzer. Biomarkers of inflammation and oxygen transport (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 (IL-6), erythropoietin (EPO), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)), and RBC hemorheological parameters (RBC deformability and aggregation) were analyzed. Results: All variables showed significantly more beneficial changes in the HPX group than in the NMX group during the intervention. The combined exercise training in normobaric hypoxia significantly reduced blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: p < 0.001, diastolic blood pressure: p < 0.001, mean arterial pressure: p < 0.001, pulse pressure: p < 0.05) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (p < 0.001). IL-6 was significantly lower in the HPX group than in the NMX group post-test (p < 0.001). Also, EPO (p < 0.01) and VEGF (p < 0.01) were significantly higher in the HPX group than in the NMX group post-test. Both groups showed significantly improved RBC deformability (RBC EI_3Pa) (p < 0.001) and aggregation (RBC AI_3Pa) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study suggests that combined exercise training in normobaric hypoxia can improve inflammatory biomarkers and RBC hemorheological parameters in obese older women and may help prevent cardiovascular diseases.

SOUTH Korea; OBESITY treatment; OXYGEN analysis; EXERCISE physiology; STATISTICAL power analysis; VASCULAR endothelial growth factors; RISK assessment; ARTERIAL diseases; ERYTHROCYTES; WOMEN; RESEARCH funding; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases; BODY mass index; FOOD consumption; T-test (Statistics); EXERCISE therapy; STATISTICAL sampling; BODY composition; ERYTHROPOIETIN; QUESTIONNAIRES; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; BIOELECTRIC impedance; CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors; OXIDATIVE stress; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; PRE-tests & post-tests; EXPERIMENTAL design; RESISTANCE training; WAIST circumference; COMBINED modality therapy; AEROBIC exercises; ANALYSIS of variance; INFLAMMATION; BLOOD pressure; COMPARATIVE studies; DATA analysis software; CONFIDENCE intervals; HYPOXEMIA; BIOMARKERS; INTERLEUKINS; OBESITY; C-reactive protein; PHYSICAL activity; NONPARAMETRIC statistics; DISEASE complications; OLD age

Healthcare (2227-9032), 2024, Vol 12, Issue 18, p1887

2227-9032

Academic Journal

10.3390/healthcare12181887