Short duration moderate resistance training reduces blood pressure and plasma TNF-α in hypertensive men: The importance role of upper and lower body training

Abstract

Objectives. — The immune system, oxidative stress, and inflammation play important roles in hypertension. Increasing of NADPH oxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), and decreasing of regulatory T cells subset (CD25) and nitric oxide (NO) have seen in hypertension.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of upper and lower body short duration resistance training on biochemical and clinical parameters in hypertension.Equipment and methods. — Thirty-seven primary hypertensive men aged 40—70 years were divided into three groups: Upper body resistance training (UBRT, n = 12), lower body resistance training (LBRT, n = 13) and control (CTR, n = 12). Experimental groups completed four weeks of resistance training protocol (4 × 1 h weekly sessions with 65—75% 1RM). Results. — The result showed that the UBRT and LBRT did not significantly change the levels of NADPH oxidase, CD25 and NO. Nevertheless, TNF- levels decreased significantly in bothUBRT and LBRT groups. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure also decreased significantly in both UBRT and LBRT groups and TNF- were positively correlated with these variables.