Improved blood pressure and flow-mediated dilatation via increased plasma adropin and nitrate/nitrite induced by high-intensity interval training in patients with type 2 diabetes.

. Before and after the intervention, FMD was recorded with high-resolution Doppler ultrasound. Plasma levels of adropin and NOx were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After training FMD was significantly higher in the MICT and HIIT groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Plasma levels of adropin and NOx were higher in both exercise groups, but the increase was greater in the HIIT group (P < 0.01). Peak oxygen consumption was increased after exercise training in both groups compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Percentage FMD showed a positive correlation with plasma levels of adropin and NOx (both P < 0.01), and a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (r = -0.530, P = 0.035) and systolic blood pressure (r = -0.606, P = 0.013) in the HIIT group. The results indicate that HIIT improved FMD whilst increasing adropin, NOx and peak oxygen consumption. Increased plasma levels of adropin may contribute, in part, to blood pressure reduction by increasing nitric oxide production.