Modulation of arterial stiffness with intensive competitive training

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Maldonado, J (Author) Other; Pereira, T (Author) Other; Polonia, J (Author) FMUP; Martins, L (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia

Vol. 25 No. 11

Pages: 709-714

ISSN: 0870-2551

Publisher: Sociedade Portuguesa De Cardiologia

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus - 8 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-GCR

Abstract (EN): Background: Aerobic exercise training has been associated with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, improving arterial compliance, possibly related to a positive impact on the endothelium. The effects of competitive aerobic exercise are not so well documented. This prompted us to evaluate the possible modulation of arterial properties in a group of athletes and their response to the aging process. Methods: 423 healthy males were enrolled in a cross-sectional study, 212 of whom were competitive athletes and 211 were controls. All underwent carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) evaluation, and casual blood pressure and other relevant anthropometric data were evaluated. Results: To control the effects of age, each group was divided into two subgroups with an age cut-point of 20 years. PWV was 6.3 ± 0.9 m/s (athletes) vs. 7.0 ± 1.0 m/s (controls) for ages < 20 years, and 7.6 ± 1.2 m/s (athletes) vs. 8.1 ± 0.9 m/s (controls) for ages > 20 years, with statistically significant differences in both comparisons. A linear regression model with logarithmic tendency analysis with age as the independent determinant of PWV revealed a different progression of age-related deterioration of aortic compliance between the two groups (athletes and controls). Conclusions: Our data documented better compliance indices in competition athletes compared with controls, which may reflect optimization of endothelial function. This improvement was age-dependent, being less pronounced as the athletes grow older, which could be due partially to sustained stretching effects on the arterial walls in long-term competitors.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6