Health issues in elderly individuals are often complex and tend to lead to chronic diseases; such issues can be due to a decline in fitness resulting from lack of physical activity. Aqua exercise and burdock are positive effects on cardiovascular disease and vascular health. This study investigated the changes due to aqua exercise and burdock extract intake in senior fitness, prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in elderly women. Forty elderly women (65–80 years) volunteered for this study. After baseline measurements, participants were randomized into control (n = 8), aqua exercise (n = 11), aqua exercise and burdock extract intake combination (n = 11), and burdock extract intake groups (n = 10). The variables of senior fitness tests, PGI2 and TXA2 were measured in all participants before and after the 12-week study. Blood collections were carried out at the beginning- and the end of aqua exercise training. Muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance of aqua exercise and burdock extract intake group at post-test significantly increased compared to pre-test (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in PGI2 and TXA2 between pre- and post-training programs. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the aqua exercise and burdock extract intake improves senior fitness factors in elderly Korean women. Also, the program participation led to a balance between PGI2 and TXA2. Additionally, burdock extract intake may be useful in vascular health by playing a secondary role in disease prevention and health promotion.

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ObjectivesOur study aims to provide basic scientific data on the importance of obesity management in middle-aged Korean women by analyzing its effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness. In addition, we examined the correlations of these two parameters.MethodsThe study participants were 40 middle-aged female volunteers, who were classified into obesity group (n = 20) and normal weight group (n = 20). Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to correlate blood pressure and arterial stiffness.ResultsThis study evaluated the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse wave velocity (PWV). These results were higher in the obesity group than the normal weight group. Furthermore, blood pressure and arterial stiffness (PWV, augmentation pressure) were static correlated.ConclusionObesity is closely related to blood pressure and arterial stiffness. Therefore, indices for blood pressure and arterial stiffness may play a vital role in predicting and preventing obesity and its sequelae.