No abstract

Obesity is associated with early cardiovascular dysfunction and reduced muscle strength. Whole-body vibration (WBV) training may improve arterial function and muscle strength. The effects of WBV training on arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV), wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx), brachial systolic blood pressure (bSBP), aortic systolic blood pressure (aSBP), heart rate variability, and muscle strength (one-repetition maximum, 1RM) were examined in 10 young (21 ± 2 year) overweight/obese women (body mass index, BMI¼29.9 ± 0.8 kg m -2 ). Participants were randomized to a 6-week WBV training or non-exercising control (CON) period in a crossover design. WBV training (3 daysÂweek) consisted of static and dynamic squats and calf raises with vibration intensity at 25-30 Hz and 1-2 mm amplitude (2.83-4.86 G). There were significant (Po0.05) decreases in baPWV (À0.9±0.3 m s -1 ), AIx (À8.0±2.2 %), bSBP (À5.3±1.5 mm Hg), aSBP (À5.2 ± 2.1 mm Hg), low-frequency power (À0.13 ± 0.05 nu) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF, À0.42 ± 0.16) after WBV training compared with CON. Significant (Po0.05) increases in high-frequency power (HF, 0.19 ± 0.04 nu) and leg extension 1RM (8.2±2.3 kg) occurred after WBV training compared with CON. Six weeks of WBV training decreased systemic arterial stiffness and aSBP via improvements in wave reflection and sympathovagal balance in young overweight/obese normotensive women. WBV training may benefit arterial function and muscle strength in deconditioned individuals who cannot perform conventional exercise.

A hypocaloric diet decreases baPWV mainly by reducing legPWV, and this reduction is related to the loss of truncal fat. Although LIRET alone does not affect PWV or body composition, LIRET combined with diet improves baPWV and muscle strength while preventing loss of lean body mass in obese postmenopausal women.

Postmenopausal women have increased wave reflection (augmentation pressure (AP) and index (AIx)) and reduced muscle function that predispose them to cardiac diseases and disability. Our aim was to examine the combined and independent effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) and l-citrulline supplementation on aortic hemodynamics and plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in postmenopausal women. Forty-one obese postmenopausal women were randomized to 3 groups: l-citrulline, WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo for 8 weeks. Brachial and aortic systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, AP, AIx, AIx adjusted to 75 beats/min (AIx@75), and NOx were measured before and after 8 weeks. All groups similarly decreased (P < 0.05) brachial and aortic pressures as well as AP, and similarly increased (P < 0.05) NOx levels. AIx and AIx@75 decreased (P < 0.01) in the WBVT+l-citrulline and WBVT+Placebo groups, but not in the l-citrulline group. The improvement in AIx@75 (-10.5% ± 8.8%, P < 0.05) in the WBVT+l-citrulline group was significant compared with the l-citrulline group. l-Citrulline supplementation and WBVT alone and combined decreased blood pressures. The combined intervention reduced AIx@75. This study supports the effectiveness of WBVT+l-citrulline as a potential intervention for prevention of hypertension-related cardiac diseases in obese postmenopausal women.

CRAE is a useful therapeutic method to alleviate metabolic risk factors in adolescent girls who are obese and hyperinsulinemic.

The beneficial vascular effects of L-citrulline/watermelon supplementation may stem from improvements in the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway. Reductions in resting blood pressure with L-citrulline/watermelon supplementation may have major implications for individuals with prehypertension and hypertension. L-Citrulline supplementation, but not acute ingestion, have shown to improve exercise performance in young healthy adults.

No abstract

The augmentation index (AIx, a marker of wave reflection) is reduced and peripheral artery vasodilation increased following acute stretching exercise. We examined the effects of stretching training (ST) on arterial function, blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic vasomotor modulation. Twenty-eight obese postmenopausal women (57±1 years) were randomized to a ST (n=14) or no-exercise control (CON) group ( n=14). ST included stretching exercises 3 days week(-1) for 8 weeks. Brachial (b) and aortic (a) systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), carotid-femoral PWV (aPWV), femoral-ankle PWV (faPWV), AIx, low-frequency component of SBP (LFSBP) and sit/reach score (SRS) were measured before and after interventions. There were significant decreases in bSBP (P<0.05), aSBP (P<0.01), aDBP (P<0.05), aMAP (P<0.01), aAIx (P<0.05) and LFSBP (P<0.05) after ST compared with CON. SRS significantly (P<0.01) increased after ST but not after CON. There were no significant effects (P>0.05) on HR, baPWV, aPWV and faPWV after ST or CON. Eight weeks of ST decreases BP, AIx and LFSBP in obese postmenopausal women. Our findings show that ST reduces peripheral and central BP, wave reflection magnitude and vascular sympathetic activity in obese postmenopausal women with prehypertension and hypertension.