Impact of active lifestyle on heart rate variability and oxidative stress markers in offspring of hypertensives

Abstract

Familial history of hypertension is associated with autonomic dysfunction and increase in blood pressure (BP). On the other hand, an active lifestyle has been found to improve a number of health outcomes and reduce all‐cause mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an active lifestyle on hemodynamics, heart rate variability (HRV) and oxidative stress markers in offspring of hypertensive parents. One hundred twenty‐seven subjects were assigned into four groups: sedentary offspring of normotensives (S‐ON) or hypertensives (S‐OH); and physically active offspring of normotensives (A‐ON) or hypertensives (A‐OH). The level of physical activity was determined using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured at rest. The assessment of cardiac autonomic modulation was performed by HRV analysis. Oxidant stress was assessed by Hydrogen peroxide concentration, Superoxide anion, Lipid Peroxide levels and Protein Carbonyls measurements in plasma. Diastolic BP and heart rate were reduced in the physically active groups when compared to S‐OH group. A‐ON and A‐OH groups presented increased values of RR total variance when compared to the sedentary ones (A‐ON: 4912±538 vs. S‐ON: 2354±159; A‐OH: 3112±236 vs. S‐OH: 2232±241ms2). Cardiac sympato‐vagal balance (LF/HF), systemic hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion were markedly increased in S‐OH group when compared to all other studied groups. Systemically, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide were increased in S‐OH group when compared to S‐ON group. However, both physically active groups (A‐ON and A‐OH) presented reduced levels of superoxide anion (A‐ON: 41.0±4.1 and A‐OH: 48.3±3.4 vs. S‐OH: 56.7±3.9 nmol/mg of protein) and hydrogen peroxide (A‐ON: 8.95±0.9 and A‐OH: 9.6±1.8 vs. S‐OH: 16.68±2.7 μM) when compared to S‐OH group. Additionally, correlations were observed between LF/HF with diastolic BP (r=0.30, p<0.05) and hydrogen peroxide (r=0.41, p<0.05). Thus, our findings confirm the presence of early autonomic dysfunction in offspring of hypertensive parents, which was associated with a systemic increase in reactive oxygen species and blood pressure. However, our most important finding lies in the attenuation of such disorders in offspring of physically active hypertensives, thus emphasizing the importance of a physically active lifestyle in the prevention of early disorders that may be associated with development of hypertension.Support or Funding InformationFinancial support: UNINOVE, CNPq, CAPES, FAPESP.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.