Administration of slow-release nifedipine does not affect lactate threshold, hormone release during exercise, and quality of life in normal subjects.

In a double-blind crossover study of 10 normal healthy subjects, we examined the effects of slow-release nifedipine (nifedipine-SR, 10 mg b.i.d) administration on exercise capacity, hormone levels during exercise, and quality of life (QOL) after a 2-week treatment. Two exercise tests, a progressive exercise test and a constant work-rate exercise test, were performed. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and blood lactate concentration were measured during the progressive exercise test and the exercise intensity corresponding to half lactate threshold (LT), LT, and 4 mmol/l of lactate concentration was determined. Subjects underwent 20 minutes of constant work-rate exercise at each work load, and blood lactate, plasma epinephrine, plasma norepinephrine, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, plasma beta-endorphin, and met-enkephalin were measured. Taking nifedipine-SR had no effect on the responses of blood pressure, heart rate, VO2max, maximal work load, and LT compared to taking placebo. Blood lactate, plasma catecholamine, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide, and beta-endorphin levels increased during exercise, and there was no difference between nifedipine-SR and placebo. Met-enkephalin did not increase with either treatment. In the QOL questionnaires, no differences were noted between the two treatments. These findings suggest nifedipine-SR to be a potentially useful drug in view of the lack of effect on exercise capacity, hormone release, and QOL.