Environmental factors 1 and genetic characteristics 2,3 interact to determine the risk of cardiovascular disease. Among these, hypertension is associated with endothelial dysfunction 4 and, in consequence, with a low endothelium dependent vasodilation. 5 Furthermore, impaired autonomic modulation with low heart rate variability (HRV) and an increased sympathetic tonus have been associated with high blood pressure. 6

Several studies have aimed to investigate the effects of exercise in different groups, showing an important outcome in the acute hemodynamic control by analyzing post-exercise hypotension (PEH). The phenomenon of PEH is well documented 7 and, occurs primarily in aerobic 8,9 and combined exercise. 10 It is important to noteworthy that PEH has a significant and positive correlation with the chronic effects of aerobic training, 11 which brings an important clinical application for this phenomenon in the long term.

On the other hand, Hagberg et al., 12 demonstrated that approximately 25% of individuals did not show a decrease in blood pressure (BP) after aerobic training. A body of evidence attributes differential amplitudes of BP attenuation 3 and nitric oxide (NO2 −) production 2 to genetic factors, what prompts for investigating candidate genes to explain such variability.

Polymorphisms of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, located on chromosome 17 in humans, have been found and the polymorphism is characterized by the presence (insertion) or absence (deletion) of a 287-base-pair alu repeat within intron 16 of the gene. The presence of the deletion (D) allele has been associated with higher concentrations of circulating ACE. 13,14 The ACE, an element of the renin – angiotensin system, catalyzes the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a potent vasopressor, and inactivates bradykinin, a precursor to nitric oxide pathway and a potent vasodilator. 14

Some authors 15 found no interaction between the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene with BP responses to exercise in elderly women and others 16 showed that allele I of ACE gene elicit a higher post-exercise BP reduction this population. However, none of these studies investigated the BP responses during a 24 h post-exercise period, and did not investigate integrated responses of HRV and NO2 − which would enable a better view of the event. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene on the responses of 24 h blood pressure, heart rate variability and nitric oxide after moderate aerobic exercise session.

The general characteristics and functional results among genotypes groups during aerobic exercise session were similar (Table 1).

Regarding the valid measures of ambulatory BP across genotypic groups, it was possible to observe that the measures were 88% to I/I genotype group, 90% to I/D genotype group and 94% to D/D genotype group.

Fig. 1 show the mean variation of absolute values obtained in the ΔMAP to DD vs. I/D vs. I/I genotypes, considering the values of recovery post-exercise minus pre-exercise session. The I/I and I/D genotype groups presented decrease on ΔMAP during sleep (p < 0.05). In daytime of 06:30 am to 10:30 am (next day) higher values of ΔMAP occur to D/D group vs. I/D group (p < 0.05).

Fig. 1.

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Variation (±SE) of mean arterial pressure (ΔMAP) in ACE genotypes groups during different moments of 24 h. *p < 0.05 to pre-exercise; † p < 0.05 to D/D.

Furthermore, protective effect on MAP for groups with the presence of allele I occurred when compared to D/D group at 4 h post-exercise (I/I = −0.5 ± 2.2 and I/D = −2.9 ± 3.4 vs. D/D = 3.4 ± 1.7 mmHg; p < 0.05) and 20 h post-exercise (I/I = −8.2 ± 2.6 and I/D = −11.4 ± 2.6 vs. D/D = −3.2 ± 2.7 mmHg; p < 0.05).

The Fig. 2 shows that, unlike the I/D and I/I genotype groups, considering the values of recovery post-exercise minus pre-exercise session, D/D genotype group decreased the R–Ri at mean 1 h and 24 h post-exercise (p < 0.05).

Fig. 2.

(0.04MB).

Variation (±SE) of R–R interval (ΔR–Ri) in ACE genotypes groups in the mean 1 h and 24 h. *p < 0.05 to pre-exercise.

The Figure 3 shows that I/I genotype group increased the NO2 − in the RAE moment (p < 0.05). Besides, in RAE moment the I/I group presented protective effect with increase of NO2 − release when compared to D/D and I/D genotype groups (p < 0.05). A similar effect occurred on the mean 1 h and 24 h post-exercise when compared to D/D group (p = 0.06) and I/D group (p < 0.05), respectively.

Fig. 3.

(0.05MB).

Variation (±SE) of nitrite (ΔNO2 −) in ACE genotypes groups right after exercise (RAE), in the mean 1 h and 24 h. *p < 0.05 to pre-exercise; † p < 0.05 to D/D; § p < 0.05 to I/D; ‡ p = 0.06 to I/I.

Our main findings revealed that the ACE D/D genotype seems to show impaired responses of BP to a moderate aerobic exercise session, especially during sleep in elderly hypertensive individuals, and to ACE genotypes with D allele (D/D and I/D) impaired release of NO2 − in moments post-aerobic exercise session. In addition, the D/D genotype showed low HRV (R–Ri) during the 24 h after the moderate exercise session. Until the present moment, no study had analyzed, simultaneously, the BP responses during 24 h, HRV and NO2 − according to a 20 min session of aerobic exercise at intensity of 90%AT, in elderly women with a history of hypertension, divided by the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene and with similar characteristics (Table 1).

One possible explanation for the effects of the I allele and mainly of the I/I genotype of the ACE gene after aerobic exercise on MAP (Fig. 1), can be related to the analyses of both the R–Ri (Fig. 2) and the NO2 − (Fig. 3). Unlike the D/D genotype group, the I/I and I/D genotype groups showed a lower reduction of R–Ri during the mean period of 1 h and 24 h after aerobic exercise when compared to pre-exercise session, which may be reflected in a better control of the MAP. Furthermore, only the I/I genotype group showed a significant release of NO2 − when compared to the D/D and I/D genotype groups in moments of the 24 h post-exercise. This condition could impair a possible endothelium-dependent vasodilatation induced of aerobic exercise in D/D and I/D groups. These results can be, in part, associated to the nocturnal decrease of MAP that occurred after exercise in the I/I genotype group (Fig. 1). The I/D group, although not show significant release of NO2 − post-exercise, also showed a nocturnal decrease in MAP after exercise, possibly because they also presented a lower reduction of R–Ri, in accordance to the I/I group (Fig. 2).

Due to the impaired responses of BP during sleep found in the D/D genotype carriers, it is noteworthy the nocturnal dip of BP. Jones et al., 21 suggest that the BP should reduce during sleep more than 10% compared to previous daytime. In the present study we verified that, during sleep, the variation of nocturnal dip to MAP was to D/D genotype between –15/+11%, I/D genotype between −15/+2% and I/I genotype between −20/+4%. These results show more variation, but particularly positive values for D/D genotype group, which may reflect a greater cardiovascular risk factor, 21 even after performing moderate aerobic exercise. As a clinical application, these results suggest that for D/D genotype carriers other types, intensities or duration of physical exercise should be investigated in order to enhance the nocturnal dip in BP. On the other hand, for individuals with the presence of the I allele (I/D and I/I), which showed significant reduction in MAP during sleep (Fig. 1), it is important to remember that acute reduction may correlate positively with chronic effects of aerobic training. 11

Although the phenomenon of PEH is well documented, 7 this study did not show a significant occurrence of PEH in daytime in any investigated genotypes (Fig. 1). The inexistence of PEH during total daytime may be related do the moderate intensity that was performed (below AT), a low volume of exercise (20 min) and specificity of the sample (elderly hypertensive).

Some authors 15 found no interaction between the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene with BP responses to exercise in elderly women and others 16 showed that allele I of ACE gene elicit a higher post-exercise BP reduction in this population. Once methodological differences occur, comparisons with other studies are difficult to be carried out, especially with regard to the time of measurement of MAP, where other studies 15,16 BP measurements were performed only for 1 h post-exercise recovery.

The NO2 − is considered a predictor of the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase 19 and thus a possible marker of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, phenomenon that could be impaired in the carriers of the D allele during and post-aerobic exercise session (Fig. 3). This condition could not be happening only because of arterial aging, 22 since the I/I group is equivalent in age to the I/D and the D/D groups (Table 1) and showed increase in NO2 − post-aerobic exercise session. The lower release of NO2 − in carriers of the D allele, especially during a high demand of the cardiovascular system (aerobic exercise session), can contribute to the explanation of a possible endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease in these groups, 23 event now genotype-dependent. Damages in endothelium-dependent vasodilatation could be preceded by a lower bioavailability of endothelial nitric oxide in individuals with higher activity of the circulating ACE (D/D genotype), since this enzyme allows the degradation of bradikinin, 14 which is associated to nitric oxide release by increase in activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase 19 and consequently PEH responses. 9

The significant decrease of the R–Ri in the D/D group in the 1 h mean and 24 h post-aerobic exercise session (Fig. 2) could be associated with a higher activity of the sympathetic tone during the 24 h post-exercise recovery period. Ashley et al., 24 investigating the autonomic balance of athletes in a multi-sport competition, found that the low frequency component, which reflects the sympathetic tone's activity, was augmented in the participants of the D/D group when compared to the others after the competition. The explanation of a higher sympathetic nervous activity in the carriers of the D/D genotype seems to be related to the various events of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The D/D genotype expresses higher levels of the ACE in hypertensive individuals. 13 The ACE plays an important role in the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a powerful vasoconstrictor. 14 Clemson et al., 25 found that healthy youngsters showed higher plasmatic norepinephrine after the infusion of intra-brachial angiotensin II. The main limitation of this study was the lack of measurement of ACE activity in the different genotype groups. However, the literature 13,14 has shown that ACE activity in genotype D/D has almost twice as high when compared with genotype I/I. Jalil et al., 13 demonstrated that hypertensive individuals between 45 and 60 years showed different levels of circulating ACE between extreme homozygotes (I/I = 18.0 ± 4.0 vs. D/D = 31.0 ± 8.0 U/l; p < 0.01).

The integrated response of BP, HRV and NO2 − 24 h after aerobic exercise session between the different genotypes of the ACE gene can be bring thoughts about exercise prescription to individuals of the same age and sex, but with different genetic traits. This topic has to be better investigated in hypertensive elderly, in way to analyze the different forms and best dose of physical exercise to this population. Besides, these results open a possibility of early detect, during and after to a single bout of aerobic exercise, impaired cardiovascular responses that can be related to genetic characteristics of individuals.

We concluded that elderly hypertensive individuals carrying the D/D genotype of the ACE gene seem to have impaired BP responses post-aerobic exercise session, especially during sleep, and to ACE genotypes with presence of D allele (D/D and I/D), impaired release of NO2 − in moments post-aerobic exercise session. In addition, the D/D genotype showed low HRV (R–Ri) during the 24 h after the moderate aerobic exercise session.

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.