PMID 41606075

Research
All papers

Effects of 12-week aquatic HIIT on blood pressure lipid profile and BaPWV in postmenopausal women with different ACE genotypes

Zhou WS, Li YH, Xu N, Liu BF, Li ZH, Gu SJ, Zhang RY, Xuan-Xu, Yan C, Wang QY, Sun L, Gu M, Zhu TQ, Tian L

Question

Do ACE genotypes modify blood pressure, lipid, and arterial stiffness responses to aquatic HIIT in postmenopausal women?

Summary

This 12-week supervised aquatic HIIT study in postmenopausal women found some within-group blood pressure and lipid changes, but no adjusted between-genotype blood-pressure differences. Arterial stiffness increased, especially in ID/DD genotype participants, so the authors emphasized monitoring.

Methodology

  • Postmenopausal women stratified by ACE genotype
  • 47 participants.
  • Aquatic resistance and jump training.
  • Work intervals: 30-second resistance or jump bouts.
  • Recovery: 30-second rest in resistance segments; 60-second active recovery after jump bouts.
  • Intensity: 75% HRR for jumps, RPE 17-19 for resistance.
  • 40 minutes.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Non-randomized genotype-stratified intervention study
  • Blood pressure, Arterial stiffness, Lipids, and Body composition were tracked.

Outcomes

Blood pressure

II group improved within-group, but adjusted between-genotype BP differences were not significant.

II SBP/DBP/MAP p=0.023/0.041/0.020.

Mixed

Arterial stiffness

BaPWV increased, especially in ID/DD participants.

ID/DD right/left p=0.013/0.002; II right p=0.019.

Safety concern

Lipids

HDL increased and LDL decreased within both groups.

Within-group p<0.05; TG lower in ID/DD than II post-intervention p=0.000.

Improved

Body composition

Weight, BMI, and body fat percentage increased in both groups.

Safety concern

Insights

  • Aquatic HIIT can achieve high attendance under close supervision.
  • Vascular safety monitoring matters even when a modality is low-impact.

Limitations

  • Non-randomized genotype comparison.
  • No true control group.
  • Small sample and underpowered relative to target.
  • Diet and medication context may confound results.

Safety

  • Adverse events were not reported.
  • Participants were screened with PAR-Q and exclusions for severe musculoskeletal, cardiovascular/cerebrovascular, metabolic, and cognitive disorders.
  • Sessions were supervised by four certified instructors with HR and RPE monitoring.
  • Arterial stiffness increased after training; authors advised routine monitoring.