(58) Effect of fat free mass loss on systolic blood pressure in Division I collegiate athletes

In relation to blood pressure (BP), moderate to vigorous intensity exercise training has been shown to maintain or increase fat free mass (FFM) and decrease BP. In addition, some research suggests an inverse relationship between FFM and BP. Recent research indicates that athletes who fail to reach their recommended daily calorie intake could result in FFM loss. However, it is less understood how FFM loss affects systolic blood pressure and hypertension risk within Division I collegiate football players.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between FFM loss and systolic BP Division 1 football players.

Methods: Fifty-two male football players were tested across the preparatory period (April-October): Age: 20.3±1.5yrs, HT: 181.1±10.7cm, BM:1032±22.2kg, BF%:16.8±8.8%, FFM:83.1±10.5kg). Height was measured using a stadiometer while resting BP was assessed according to ACSM guidelines with an automated sphygmomanometer cuff. High BP was defined as (>120 - <130 mmHg Systolic BP and <80 mmHg Diastolic BP) according to AHA guidelines, prior to weight and body composition assessment using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance. Statistical analysis included spearman’s correlations and paired t-tests to determine the relationship between FFM loss and SBP over the preparatory period.

Results: A significant difference in FFM (-1.7±0.5kg, p < 0.01) over the time period, while maintaining body mass. Across the preparatory period, a significant moderate relationship (r=0.45, p<0.01) was observed between SBP and FFM loss. 27/52 (52%) compared to 30/52 (58%) were hypertensive in the preparatory and competitive seasons respectively despite no significance change (p > 0.05). During the competitive season, a nonsignificant, weak, positive correlation (p = 0.09, r = 0.24) existed between FFM and Systolic BP.

Conclusion: Despite the negative weak relationship between FFM and SBP, there was a 6% increase in athletes with hypertension. Furthermore, >50% frequency of hypertension is significant when the current literature reports a 3% frequency using previous blood pressure guidelines. Although there was a weak correlation between high BP and FFM over the testing period, 33% of the sample lost FFM throughout the preparatory period and 12/17 (70.5%) who lost FFM were hypertensive. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Athletes who lose weight and/or FFM throughout the preparatory period are at risk for developing high blood pressure. Transient elevated blood pressure is shown to increase to hypertension in a five year follow up. Further, over the preparatory period athletes who began the study with elevated blood pressure developed HTN as the season progressed. This indicates that participants may be at risk of developing morbidity if FFM is not maintained across the preparatory period. Although FFM loss was not a significant indicator of this effect, more research must be done to evaluate the effects of FFM loss amongst competitive athletes.