Early Exercise Training After Renal Transplantation and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: The Effect of Obesity
Abstract
Background/Aims: To assess, in a prospective cohort study of 238 renal transplant patients, our hypothesis that elevated ADMA levels may be influenced by physical exercise and obesity. Methods: Blood samples before and after six months were obtained from 116 transplant patients participating in an aerobic exercise (Group I).
A control group consisted of 122 matched transplant patients who did not exercise regularly (Group II). Results: There were no significant differences in ADMA levels between both groups before the training program (Group I-B vs Group IIB).
After six months of exercise, ADMA levels in Group I decreased (Group I-B vs Group I-A: 3.50 +/- 0.45 vs 2.11 +/- 0.35 mu mol/L; p < 0.01) and were lower compared to those in Group II (Group I-A vs Group IIA : 2.11 +/- 0.23 vs 3.25 +/- 0.34 mu mol/L; p < 0.01). Analysis of our results in obese renal transplant recipients (BMI }= 30 kg/m(2)) confirmed a smaller effect of exercise training (Group I-BO vs Group I-AO: 3.75 +/- 0.52 vs 3.45 +/- 0.45; p < 0.05 and Group I-AO vs Group IIAO: 3.45 +/- 0.45 vs 3.74 +/- 0.62; p < 0.05).
Blood lipids, HbA(1c), insulin, and systolic BP were also affected by the training program. Conclusion: Elevated ADMA levels were significantly decreased by early exercise after renal transplantation.
The effect of exercise was smaller in obese patients.