Changes in blood pressure and serum cholesterol following exercise training in Nigerian hypertensive subjects

The effect of exercise training on blood pressure (BP) and serum cholesterol level was studied in hypertensive Nigerians. Fifty-eight subjects aged 30-65 years completed the study. They exercised on a cycle ergometer at 70% maximum O2 consumption. The frequency of exercise increased from 1 x 30 min/week for 16 weeks to 3 x 30 min/week for 16 weeks. Overall, there was a significant decrease in systolic (S) BP from 161 mm Hg at the onset, to 148 mm Hg at the end of exercise training (P < 0.01). Also there was a significant decrease in diastolic (D) BP from 100 mm Hg to 95 mm Hg (P < 0.05). The younger hypertensives (30-50 years) had a better response than the older hypertensives (51-65 years). There was a slight decrease in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels, but high density lipoprotein level increased from an onset value of 0.94 mmol/l to 1.38 mmol/l at the end of exercise training (P < 0.05). Thus exercise training decreased BP and increased high density lipoprotein in hypertensive Nigerians.