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Impact of an active lifestyle on cardiovascular autonomic modulation and oxidative stress in males with overweight and parental history of hypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Family history of hypertension is associated with early autonomic dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. These alterations have been found to be reinforced by the overweight factor. Conversely, an active lifestyle is effective in improving the mechanisms regulating blood pressure control. Hence, we ought to investigate the effects of an active lifestyle on the hemodynamic, autonomic and oxidative stress parameters in individuals carrying both family history of hypertension and overweight risk factors. Fifty-six normotensive males were divided into four groups: eutrophic offspring of normotensive parents (EN, n = 12), eutrophic and inactive with hypertensive parents (EH, n = 14), overweight and inactive with hypertensive parents (OH, n = 13), and overweight and physically active with hypertensive parents (OAH, n = 17). Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was assessed by heart rate (HRV) and blood pressure (BPV) variability indexes. Oxidative stress included pro/antioxidant markers and nitrite concentration. Inactive offspring of hypertensive parents (EH and OH) showed higher LFSBP (vs EN), an indicator of sympathetic outflow to the vasculature and reduced anti-oxidant activity (vs EN), while higher pro-oxidant markers were found exclusively in OH (vs EN and EH). Conversely, the OAH group showed bradycardia, higher vagally-mediated HFabs index (vs OH and EN), lower sympathovagal balance (vs OH) and preserved LFSBP. Yet, the OAH showed preserved pro/antioxidant markers and nitrite levels. Our findings indicates that overweight offspring of hypertensive parents with an active lifestyle have improved hemodynamic, cardiac autonomic modulation and oxidative stress parameters compared to their inactive peers.

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Fig. 1: Heart rate (HRV) and blood pressure (BPV) variability indexes obtained at rest.
Fig. 2: Plasmatic oxidative stress biomarkers.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge all of the volunteers for their willingness to participate in the study.

Funding

This study was supported by CNPq (457200/2014-6; 407398/2021-0; 406792/2022-4), CAPES (88881.062178/2014-01) and FAPESP (2019/27782-5). De Angelis, K. and Irigoyen, MC. are recipients of CNPq Fellowship (CNPq-BPQ).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Marcelle Paula-Ribeiro, Kátia De Angelis.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Physiology Laboratory, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario Cesar Nascimento, Ariane Viana, Danielle da Silva Dias, Fernando Dos Santos, Simone Dal Corso & Kátia De Angelis

  2. State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC), Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Mario Cesar Nascimento

  3. Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil

    Danielle da Silva Dias

  4. Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Fernando Dos Santos & Maria Cláudia Irigoyen

  5. Respiratory Research@Alfred, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Simone Dal Corso

  6. Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Marcelle Paula-Ribeiro & Kátia De Angelis

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  1. Mario Cesar Nascimento
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Contributions

Authors have contributed to either (i) conception and design of the study (MCN, AV, SDC, MPR, KDA), (ii) acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data (MCN, AV, DSD, FS, SDC, MCI, MPR, KDA), or (iii) drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content (MCN, AV, DSD, FS, SDC, MCI, MPR, KDA). All authors have qualified for authorship and approved the final version of the manuscript. Finally, all authors agree being accountable with regards to ensuring accuracy and integrity for the work currently investigated.

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Correspondence to Kátia De Angelis.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was granted for this study from the UNINOVE Research Ethics Committee (No 1.672.599). All subjects provided written informed consent to participate. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Nascimento, M.C., Viana, A., Dias, D.d.S. et al. Impact of an active lifestyle on cardiovascular autonomic modulation and oxidative stress in males with overweight and parental history of hypertension. J Hum Hypertens (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-024-00895-5

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