Aerobic or muscle-strengthening exercise impacts similarly renin–angiotensin system peptides in subjects with type 2 diabetes

The renin–angiotensin system intricately regulates cardiovascular functions. The canonical vasoconstrictor axis [associated with Angiotensin II, (Ang II)] and the counter-regulatory or vasodilator axis [linked to Angiotensin-(1–7), (Ang-(1–7)] are adversely affected by Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Physical exercise can modulate the vasoactive peptide concentrations, but its specific effects in T2DM subjects remain uncertain. This study compared the impact of two distinct exercise modalities (aerobic vs. resistance exercise) on circulating concentrations of Angiotensin I, Angiotensin II, and Angiotensin-(1–7) in middle-aged and older adults with T2DM.

Eleven individuals with T2DM (9 post-menopausal women; 63.7 ± 7.1 years) performed an aerobic exercise (treadmill walking at 90–95% of the 6-min walk test mean speed) and resistance exercise session (3 × 10 repetitions in 8 exercises at 70% 10-RM) in a counter-balanced order. Blood samples were collected before and after each exercise session to determine renin–angiotensin system peptide concentrations using a gold standard method, tandem mass spectrometry.

Angiotensin I concentrations decreased (F = 7.93, p < 0.01) following both exercise sessions, while Ang II and Ang-(1–7) concentrations remained unchanged. The Ang II to Ang-(1–7) ratio (F = 7.7, p < 0.02) increased immediately after both aerobic and resistance exercises.

A single session of either aerobic or resistance exercise comparably influences circulating concentrations of renin–angiotensin system molecules in middle-aged and older adults with T2DM. Specifically, Angiotensin I concentrations decrease, while the Ang II-to-Ang-(1–7) ratio increases post-exercise, with no change observed in Angiotensin II and Angiotensin-(1–7) concentrations.