In ten patients with essential hypertension who were on a prescribed regimen of supervised mild exercise, we examined serum lipids, HDL cholesterol subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3), and apolipoproteins. The findings were compared with data on age- and sex-matched hypertensives not on this regimen of exercise. Blood samples were obtained from the auricle during the multistage exercise test, and changes in levels of lactate were measured. The exercise was done for 30 minutes three times weekly for 10 weeks. A significant reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was evident at 10 weeks. Serum concentrations of HDL2 cholesterol increased significantly at 10 weeks, but there were no changes in total and HDL3 cholesterol. No significant changes were observed in serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I, apo A-II, apo B, apo C-II, apo C-III and apo E following 10 weeks of exercise therapy. In the hypertensive controls who were not on exercise therapy, blood pressure as well as all parameters related to lipoproteins remained unchanged. Thus, mild exercise lowers blood pressure and improves the lipoprotein profile.

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