Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the association between anti and pro-oxidant activity, nitrite concentration, and blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged and older women with different levels of estimated training status (TS). The sample consisted of 155 females (50–84 years) who were submitted to a physical examination to evaluate estimated TS through the “Functional Fitness Battery Test,” BP measurements, and plasma blood samples to evaluate pro-oxidant and antioxidant activity and nitrite concentrations. Participants were separated by age into a middle-aged group (<65 years) and an older (≥65 years) group and then subdivided in each group according to TS. Blood biochemistry was similar between groups. On the other hand, protein oxidation was lower in participants with higher TS, independent of age. Older females with higher TS presented higher nitrite concentrations, lower lipoperoxidation, and lower values of BP compared with those with lower TS. Lower GPx activity was observed in participants with higher TS compared with middle-aged with lower TS. Thus, our results suggest that good levels of TS may be associated with lower oxidative stress and higher nitrite concentration and may contribute to maintain normal or reduced blood pressure values.
Highlights
Aging is a normal process that can be characterized as an association of many deleterious alterations in molecules, cells, and tissues, culminating in reduced efficacy of physiological functions, and loss of resistance or adaptability to stress
The middle-aged group presented higher levels of training status (TS) measured by general functional fitness index (GFFI) and lower values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with the older group
The percentage of older women not taking anti-hypertensive medication was lower compared with the middle-aged group, the percentage of medication category was similar between groups
Summary
Aging is a normal process that can be characterized as an association of many deleterious alterations in molecules, cells, and tissues, culminating in reduced efficacy of physiological functions, and loss of resistance or adaptability to stress (da Cruz et al, 2014). The Free Radical Theory of Aging proposed by Denham Harman (Harman, 1956) stipulates that high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anions (O−2 .), which can promote oxidative damage, culminating in cardiovascular injuries (Münzel et al, 2010; da Cruz et al, 2014; Wu et al, 2014; Mikhed et al, 2015). High antioxidant capacity provides appropriate defense against vascular oxidative stress, neutralizing free radicals and protecting nitric oxide (NO) from scavenging, thereby exerting beneficial effects on vascular function (Roberts and Sindhu, 2009; Mikhed et al, 2015) and better BP control. Higher oxidative stress has been reported during the aging process, probably caused by reduced expression or deficiency in the activity of endogenous antioxidants (Harman, 2003; ABESO, 2009; Del Pozo-Cruz et al, 2014) and the fast reaction between NO and O−2 .
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