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Differential effects of variation in athletes training on myocardial morphophysiological adaptation in men: Focus on 123I-MIBG assessed myocardial sympathetic activity

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Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

High intensity systematic physical training leads to myocardial morphophysiological adaptations. The goal of this study was to investigate if differences in training were correlated with differences in cardiac sympathetic activity.

Methods

58 males (19-47 years), were divided into three groups: strength group (SG), (20 bodybuilders), endurance group (EG), (20 endurance athletes), and a control group (CG) comprising 18 healthy non-athletes. Cardiac sympathetic innervation was assessed by planar myocardial 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy using the early and late heart to mediastinal (H/M) ratio, and washout rate (WR).

Results

Left ventricular mass index was significantly higher both in SG (P < .001) and EG (P = .001) compared to CG without a statistical significant difference between SG and EG (P = .417). The relative wall thickness was significantly higher in SG compared to CG (P < .001). Both left ventricular ejection fraction and the peak filling rate showed no significant difference between the groups. Resting heart rate was significantly lower in EG compared to CG (P = .006) and SG (P = .002). The late H/M ratio in CG was significantly higher compared to the late H/M for SG (P = .003) and EG (P = .004). However, WR showed no difference between the groups. There was no significant correlation between the parameters of myocardial sympathetic innervation and parameters of left ventricular function.

Conclusions

Strength training resulted in a significant increase in cardiac dimensions. Both strength and endurance training seem to cause a reduction in myocardial sympathetic drive. However, myocardial morphological and functional adaptations to training were not correlated with myocardial sympathetic activity.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post Graduation Program in Research and Development - Medical Biotechnology, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Douglas Pinheiro Miranda MSc

  2. Department of Physical Education, Centro Universitário da Fundação Educacional de Barretos, Avenida Professor Roberto Frade Monte, 389, Barretos, São Paulo, 14783-226, Brazil

    Douglas Pinheiro Miranda MSc

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pios XII Foundation, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcelo José dos Santos MD, Edmundo Pereira Caparelli de Oliveira MD & Euclides Timóteo da Rocha MD, PhD

  4. The Heart Institute (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Vera Maria Cury Salemi MD, PhD

  5. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hein J. Verberne MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Douglas Pinheiro Miranda MSc
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  2. Marcelo José dos Santos MD
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  3. Vera Maria Cury Salemi MD, PhD
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  4. Edmundo Pereira Caparelli de Oliveira MD
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  5. Hein J. Verberne MD, PhD
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  6. Euclides Timóteo da Rocha MD, PhD
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Douglas Pinheiro Miranda MSc or Euclides Timóteo da Rocha MD, PhD.

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Miranda, D.P., dos Santos, M.J., Salemi, V.M.C. et al. Differential effects of variation in athletes training on myocardial morphophysiological adaptation in men: Focus on 123I-MIBG assessed myocardial sympathetic activity. J. Nucl. Cardiol. 21, 570–577 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-014-9876-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12350-014-9876-6

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