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Effects of prior aerobic exercise on sitting-induced vascular dysfunction in healthy men

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Abstract

Introduction

Acute aerobic exercise prevents sitting-induced impairment of flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Further, evidence suggests that sitting-induced impairment of FMD occurs via an oxidative stress-dependent mechanism that disrupts endothelial function.

Purpose

We hypothesized that acute aerobic exercise would prevent impairment of femoral artery FMD by limiting oxidative stress responses that increase endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels and disrupt nitric oxide (NO) status.

Methods

In a randomized, cross-over study, healthy men (n = 11; 21.2 ± 1.9 years) completed two 3 h sitting trials that were preceded by 45 min of either quiet rest (REST) or a single bout of continuous treadmill exercise (65% maximal oxygen consumption) (EX). Superficial femoral artery FMD, plasma glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), ET-1, arginine (ARG) and its related metabolites [homoarginine (HA), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA)] were assessed at baseline, 1 h following EX (or REST) (0 h), and at 1 h intervals during 3 h of uninterrupted sitting. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

During REST, femoral artery FMD declined from baseline (2.6 ± 1.8%) at 1, 2, and 3 h of sitting and resting shear rate decreased at 3 h. In contrast, when sitting was preceded by EX, femoral artery FMD (2.7 ± 2.0%) and resting shear rate responses were unaffected. No between trial differences were detected for plasma glucose, MDA, ET-1, ARG, HA, ADMA, or SDMA.

Conclusion

Prior aerobic exercise prevented the decline in femoral artery FMD that is otherwise induced by prolonged sitting independent of changes in oxidative stress, ET-1, and NO status.

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Abbreviations

ADMA:

Asymmetric dimethylarginine

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ARG:

Arginine

AUCSR :

Shear rate area under the curve

BMI:

Body mass index

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

ET-1:

Endothelin-1

EX:

Exercise

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilation

HA:

Homoarginine

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

MAP:

Mean arterial pressure

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NO:

Nitric oxide

REST:

Quiet rest

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SDMA:

Symmetric dimethylarginine

TBA:

Thiobarbituric acid

VO2max:

Maximal oxygen consumption

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a College of Education, Health, and Society Seed Grant and Miami University Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program. The authors acknowledge the contributions of our participants and Kristina Arslain for her assistance with diet record entry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health, College of Education, Health and Society, Miami University, 420 South Oak Street, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Kevin D. Ballard, Robert M. Duguid, Craig W. Berry, Rose Marie Ward & Kyle L. Timmerman

  2. Human Nutrition Program, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Priyankar Dey & Richard S. Bruno

Authors
  1. Kevin D. Ballard
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  2. Robert M. Duguid
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  3. Craig W. Berry
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  6. Rose Marie Ward
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  7. Kyle L. Timmerman
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Correspondence to Kevin D. Ballard.

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Communicated by Mark Olfert.

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Ballard, K.D., Duguid, R.M., Berry, C.W. et al. Effects of prior aerobic exercise on sitting-induced vascular dysfunction in healthy men. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 2509–2518 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3738-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3738-2

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