Elderly Health Journal

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age. Increased production of reactive oxygen species involves in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetic vascular complications, and heart failure. The present study aimed to explore the effects of resistance training on plasma hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level of ageing women.

Methods: Twenty-four postmenopausal women (mean age = 67.37 ± 6.02, height = 153.02 ± 8.12, weight = 65.78 ± 12.03, body mass index = 26.87 ± 4.16, body fat percent = 18.61 ± 3.65, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) = 0.92 ± 0.4) were purposefully chosen and randomly divided into control and experimental groups each consisted of 12 subjects. Experimental group did resistance training for eight weeks as follows: three sessions per week with 40% to 65% intensity of a maximum repetition and 5% overload after each 6 sessions. Before and after 8 weeks of training, resting levels of H₂O₂ was measured and recorded. Data were analyzed by paired- samples t-test.

Results: A statistically significant decrease observed in plasma H₂O₂ level (p = 0.041) and also weight (p = 0.048), body fat percent (p = 0.001), WHR (p = 0.037), resting- heart- rate (p = 0.021), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.006) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.002) of participants in experimental group but there were not any statistically different in any of the variables, pre and post-test in control group.

Conclusion: Resistance training may be used as an intervention program for cardiovascular risk factors reduction.