Three months of Tai Chi Chuan exercise can reduce serum triglyceride and endothelin-1 in the elderly

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and circulating hormones play important roles in maintaining cardiovascular function. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is known to be good for health. This study evaluated the effect of 3 months of TCC training on serum ET-1, blood lipids, and other circulating hormones in the elderly. Twenty-two TCC trainees and 20 normal subjects were included in this study. The TCC trainees practiced classical Yang's TCC 40 min per session, 7 times per week, for 3 months. The hemodynamics and serum ET-1 and lipids before and after TCC were compared. The percentage change in serum ET-1 and triglyceride (TG) were decreased significantly after 3 months of TCC, as compared to the control group. In the TCC group, the percentage decrease in serum ET-1 and TG after 3 months of TCC were -36.6 (-63.4 to -14.0)% and -22.5 (-30.7 to 4.9)%, respectively. TCC exercise for 3 months can reduce serum ET-1 and TG in the elderly. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.