Isoflavone Supplementation Does Not Potentiate the Effect of Combined Exercise Training on Resting and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Non-Obese Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial-A Pilot Study.

Physical exercise and isoflavone supplementation are potential strategies to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are additive effects of isoflavone supplementation when associated with combined aerobic and resistance exercise on resting and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and in blood pressure variability (BPV). Thirty-one non-obese postmenopausal women were randomly allocated into two groups: placebo and exercise (Placebo n = 19); and isoflavone supplementation (100 mg/day) and exercise (isoflavone n = 19). ABPM and BPV were evaluated before and after 10 weeks of moderate combined (aerobic and resistance) exercise training. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) with Bonferroni correction and intention-to-treat analysis was used to compare the effects of interventions on resting BP, ABPM and BPV. Combined exercise training decreased resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and reduced 24 h and awake ambulatory SBP, DBP and mean blood pressure over time, with no additional effects of isoflavone supplementation. No changes were observed in sleep period, or in BPV indexes (Standard Deviation of 24 h (SD), daytime and nighttime interval (SDdn) and average real variability (ARV) in both groups. We conclude that isoflavone supplementation does not potentiate the effects of combined training on resting and ambulatorial systolic and diastolic blood pressure in non-obese postmenopausal women.

Short-term folinic acid supplementation and aerobic exercise improve vascular reactivity in HIV-infected individuals.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supervised exercise and folinic acid supplementation on endothelial function in HIV-infected individuals. A randomized clinical trial, double blinded, was conducted with 16 HIV-infected individuals, antiretroviral therapy (at least 6 months) with undetectable viral load (<50 copies/mL), and CD4 count > 200 cells/mm3. The subjects were randomized to aerobic exercise (n = 5) and daily intake for 4 weeks of 5 mg of folinic acid (n = 6) or placebo (n = 5) groups. To assess endothelial function, venous occlusion plethysmography in the brachial artery by the protocol of reactive hyperemia was performed. The aerobic protocol consisted in cycling exercise, 3 times/week at 60-80% VO2max, for 4 weeks. Exercise group (Δ6.5 mL/min/100 mL) and folinic acid group (Δ7.3 mL/min/100 mL) improved reactive hyperemia, but no difference was found in placebo group (from Δ -0.3 ml/min/100 ml, time p < 0.001, interaction p = 0.02). Results demonstrate that supervised exercise and folinic acid supplementation in very short term improve endothelial function in HIV-infected individuals. As exercise and folate supplementation are safe and relatively inexpensive, this finding deserves more attention in large randomized clinical trials in an attempt to reduce cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected population.