Impact of Vitamin E and Selenium Intake on Antioxidant Protection Indicators During Physical Exertion in Individuals With Hypertension

Abstract

Hypertension remains one of the main problems in modern medicine since it is a pathogenetic factor leading to a large number of cardiovascular diseases and premature death.
 The aim of the study is to measure and compare the levels of sulfhydryl groups in plasma and blood as well as reduced glutathione of erythrocytes in patients with stage II hypertension before and after engaging in a controlled physical exercise taking into account the intake of vitamin E and selenium.
 Material and Methods. There were 60 patients with stage II hypertension and 30 relatively healthy individuals. The individuals under observation performed a two-stage physical exercise on a stationary bicycle ergometer with the intensity, corresponding to 50 and 75% of the maximum oxygen consumption by the body. The overall duration of each stage of the physical exercise accounted for 5 minutes with a three-minute break to rest in between. Blood was taken from the ulnar vein before the cardiac stress test and 5 minutes after it. The content of sulfhydryl groups in plasma and erythrocytes, as well as reduced glutathione of erythrocytes was measured in patients before and after the physical exercise. The examination was conducted twice - before and after the intake of vitamin E and selenium.
 Results and Discussion. Since the immediate response to a cardiac stress test performed on a stationary bicycle is shown by changes in the level of non-protein-bound sulfhydryl groups of erythrocytes (the level decreases), it can be assumed that they are involved in the formation of the primary compensatory reaction in response to physical exercise in individuals suffering from arterial hypertension.
 Conclusion. Thus, the decrease in the level of non-protein-bound sulfhydryl groups of erythrocytes enables to assess the degree of stress that affects the human body, as well as the antioxidant protection enhancement in patients with hypertension after taking vitamin E and selenium both before and after engaging in physical exercise.