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 IB vs. Group IIB). After six months of exercise, ADMA levels in Group I decreased (Group IB vs. Group IA : 3.50 ± 0.45 vs. 2.11 ± 0.35 μmol/L; p< 0.01) and were lower compared to those in Group II (Group IA vs. Group IIA : 2 11 ± 0 23 vs 3 25 ± 0 34 μmol/L; p< 0 01) Analysis of our results in obese renal transplant recipients (BMI B 30 kg/m(2)) confirmed a smaller effect of exercise training (Group IBO vs Group IAO : 3 75 ± 0 52 vs 3 45 ± 0 45; p< 0 05 and Group IAO vs. Group IIAO : 3.45 ± 0.45 vs. 3.74 ± 0.62; p<0.05). Blood lipids, HbA1C, 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.