Effects of watermelon supplementation on arterial stiffness and wave reflection amplitude in postmenopausal women.

Objective: Postmenopausal women have increased arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV]) and wave reflection. L-Citrulline supplementation reduces baPWV but not brachial blood pressure. Peripheral vasodilators decrease wave reflection amplitude or second systolic peak (SBP2) in radial artery and aorta, which are related to aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP).

Effects of hypocaloric diet, low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movement, or both on aortic hemodynamics and muscle mass in obese postmenopausal women.

Objective: This study aims to examine the independent and combined impact of hypocaloric diet and low-intensity resistance exercise training (LIRET) on aortic hemodynamics and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) in obese postmenopausal women.

Methods: Forty-one obese postmenopausal women (mean [SD] age, 54 [1] y) were randomly assigned to LIRET (n = 13), diet (n = 14), or diet + LIRET (n = 14). Body weight, waist circumference, aortic systolic blood pressure, aortic pulse pressure, augmentation index, subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR; myocardial perfusion), and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after 12 weeks.

The effects of short term L-citrulline supplementation on wave reflection responses to cold exposure with concurrent isometric exercise.

Background: Supplementation with L-citrulline (L-cit) has shown attenuating effects on blood pressure (BP) and pulse-wave-reflection responses (augmentation index (AIx)) to local exposure to cold, but the potential cardioprotective effects of L-cit during whole-body cold exposure with concurrent exercise are poorly understood. We hypothesized that L-cit would attenuate the BP and AIx responses to cold exposure and isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise.

Methods: Sixteen healthy males with a mean age of 23±3 years volunteered for a study of the effect of L-cit on the BP and AIx responses to cold exposure and IHG exercise.

Effects of diet and/or low-intensity resistance exercise training on arterial stiffness, adiposity, and lean mass in obese postmenopausal women.

Background: Obesity and aging are associated with increased arterial stiffness as indicated by an increased pulse-wave velocity (PWV). We evaluated the independent and combined effects on PWV and body composition of a hypocaloric diet and low-intensity resistance exercise training (LIRET) with slow movement.

Methods: Forty-one postmenopausal women (mean age, 54±6 years; body mass index (BMI), 33.