Effect of red wine associated with physical exercise in the cardiovascular system of spontaneously hipertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise (PE) is effective in the treatment and prevention of hypertension associated with improved lipid profile and cardiac contractile function. Regular and moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages such as red wine brings a cardiovascular protective effect. Beverage-derived polyphenols have antioxidant properties benefiting blood vessels. There is little evidence on the consumption of red wine associated with PE and the influences on the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of physical exercise (PE) and moderate red wine intake interaction on systolic blood pressure (SBP), high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, physical performance (PP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODS: Sample of 32 SHRs divided into four groups: wine and exercise group (WEG), wine group (WG), exercise group (EG) and control group (CG). Red wine doses were given by intra-gastric gavage, during ten weeks, coincident with PE period, performed on treadmills. The SHRs received red wine doses of 3.715 ml/kg/day. Physical performance was analyzed by maximal exercise test (MET) and LVEF by echocardiographic measures. SBP measurement was made before and after the PE protocol.

RESULTS: Demonstrated that the three groups which suffered intervention presented significant SBP reduction compared to CG. At the end of the protocol, WEG showed the largest reduction. Like in SBP results, WEG showed the best outcome on HDL levels at the experiment end. There was no significant difference of physical performance and LVEF between groups.

CONCLUSION: PE associated with moderate red wine intake has cardioprotective effects on SBP and HDL levels in SHR. Their physical performance and LVEF are not modified.