Time of day influence on cardiovascular adaptations promoted by aerobic training in hypertensives

Aerobic training is recommended to decrease blood pressure (BP) in hypertension. There is a strong correlation between the hypotensive post-effect of a single aerobic exercise session and the chronic hypotensive effect produced by aerobic training, and some studies have demonstrated that this acute hypotensive effect is greater when exercise is executed in the evening, which suggests that training effect might also be greater when performed at this time of day. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess and compare, in treated hypertensive men, the effect of aerobic training performed in the morning and in the evening on BP and its hemodynamic and autonomic mechanisms, as well as on sleep quality. For this, 50 treated hypertensive men (30 to 65 years old) were randomly allocated into 3 groups: morning training (MT, starting between 7-9 a.m.), evening training (ET, starting between 6-8 p.m.) and control group (CG, half at each time of day). The interventions were performed 3times/week for 10 weeks. MT and ET was composed by cycling on an ergometer (45 min, intensity between the ventilatory thresholds). CG performed stretching for 30 min. At the beginning and end of the study, the following variables were assessed: ambulatory BP; sleep quality, and clinic BP and its hemodynamics and autonomic mechanisms measured between 7-9a.m. and between 6-8 p.m. Two-way mixed ANOVAs were employed, considering p<=0.05. Twentyfour hour (p=0.04) and asleep (p=0.05) diastolic BPs decreased only in the ET; which was different from MT and CG, while sleep quality did not change in any group. For assessments made between 7-9 a.m., systolic BP, mean BP and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased only in FDT, which was different from CG (-5±6 mmHg, -4±4 mmHg e -3±3U, p<0.05). Heart rate (HR) decreased and sympathovagal balance was different from CG in the MT and ET, while cardiac baroreflex sensibility (cBRS) increased in both training groups, but the increase was greater in the ET (+0.4±0.4 vs. +0.3±0.6 ms/mmHg, p=0,002). Sympathetic vasomotor modulation (TVSBP) did not change in MT and decreased in the ET, with both responses different from CG (p=0.001). For assessments made between 6-8 p.m., systolic BP (p<0.001), mean BP (p<0.001) and SVR (p=0.03) decreased significantly only in FDT and these responses were different from the MT and CG. Therefore, in treated hypertensive men, aerobic training performed in the evening decreases clinic and ambulatory BP. These reduction occurs due to a decrease in SVR, possibly due to the decrease in sympathetic vasomotor modulation; and it is followed by a decrease in HR, possibly associated to an improvement of cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Aerobic training performed in the morning decreases HR and improves cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Thus, in treated hypertensive men, aerobic training performed in the evening is more effective to decrease BP and cardiovascular risk, being more indicated to these patients (AU)