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01-11-2011 | Original Article

Acute effects of walking in forest environments on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters

Authors: Qing Li, Toshiaki Otsuka, Maiko Kobayashi, Yoko Wakayama, Hirofumi Inagaki, Masao Katsumata, Yukiyo Hirata, YingJi Li, Kimiko Hirata, Takako Shimizu, Hiroko Suzuki, Tomoyuki Kawada, Takahide Kagawa

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 11/2011

Abstract

We previously found that forest environments reduced stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline and showed the relaxing effect both in male and female subjects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of walking under forest environments on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Sixteen healthy male subjects (mean age 57.4 ± 11.6 years) were selected after obtaining informed consent. The subjects took day trips to a forest park in the suburbs of Tokyo and to an urban area of Tokyo as a control in September 2010. On both trips, they walked for 2 h in the morning and afternoon on a Sunday. Blood and urine were sampled on the morning before each trip and after each trip. Blood pressure was measured on the morning (0800) before each trip, at noon (1300), in the afternoon (1600) during each trip, and on the morning (0800) after each trip. The day trip to the forest park significantly reduced blood pressure and urinary noradrenaline and dopamine levels and significantly increased serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels. Walking exercise also reduced the levels of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and urinary dopamine. Taken together, habitual walking in forest environments may lower blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nerve activity and have beneficial effects on blood adiponectin and DHEA-S levels, and habitual walking exercise may have beneficial effects on blood NT-proBNP levels.

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Title: Acute effects of walking in forest environments on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters
Authors: Qing Li
Toshiaki Otsuka
Maiko Kobayashi
Yoko Wakayama
Hirofumi Inagaki
Masao Katsumata
Yukiyo Hirata
YingJi Li
Kimiko Hirata
Takako Shimizu
Hiroko Suzuki
Tomoyuki Kawada
Takahide Kagawa
Publication date: 01-11-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 11/2011
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-1918-z

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Acute effects of walking in forest environments on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters

Abstract

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Abstract

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