Effect of an aerobic exercise program on blood pressure and catecholamines in normotensive and hypertensive subjects

Interrelations between physical exercise, monoamines and hypertension are postulated by various investigators. The purpose of the present study was to determine and compare catecholamine levels at rest and after a 12-week aerobic exercise program in 11 sedentary normotensive (N) and 8 hypertensive (H) men. Plasma catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A significant post-exercise increase in plasma noradrenaline was observed in the N and H groups (P<0.01) both before and after the aerobic exercise program. The hypertensive group showed a significant reduction of the sum of 7 skinfold thickness scores after the aerobic exercise program (from 178.7 +/- 65.6 to 144.0 +/- 47.4 mm) although no significant difference was observed when the body mass index was compared. A significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure at rest was observed in the H group after the aerobic exercise program (from 99.2 +/- 2.0 to 85.0 +/- 5.5). There were no significant differences in catecholamine concentrations between groups before and after the 12-week aerobic exercise program at rest and post-exercise. These data show a relationship between physical exercise and hypertension that was not related to changes in plasma catecholamine levels.