Early Exercise Training After Renal Transplantation and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: The Effect of Obesity

Background/Aims: To assess, in a prospective cohort study of 238 renal transplant patients, our hypothesis that elevated ADMA levels may be influenced by physical exercise and obesity. Methods: Blood samples before and after six months were obtained from 116 transplant patients participating in an aerobic exercise (Group I). A control group consisted of 122 matched transplant patients who did not exercise regularly (Group II). Results: There were no significant differences in ADMA levels between both groups before the training program (Group I B vs Group II B ). After six months of exercise, ADMA levels in Group I decreased (Group I B vs Group I A : 3.50 ± 0.45 vs 2.11 ± 0.35μmol/L; p< 0.01) and were lower compared to those in Group II (Group I A vs Group II A : 2 11 ± 0 23 vs 3 25 ± 0 34μmol/L; p< 0 01) Analysis of our results in obese renal transplant recipients (BMI B 30 kg/m 2 ) confirmed a smaller effect of exercise training (Group I BO vs Group I AO : 3 75 ± 0 52 vs 3 45 ± 0 45; p< 0 05 and Group I AO vs Group II AO : 3.45 ± 0.45 vs 3.74 ± 0.62; p