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Effect of obesity and metabolic syndrome on hypoxic vasodilation

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Abstract

This study was designed to test whether obese adults and adults with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) exhibit altered hyperemic responses to hypoxia at rest and during forearm exercise when compared with lean controls. We hypothesized blood flow responses due to hypoxia would be lower in young obese subjects (n = 11, 24 ± 2 years, BMI 36 ± 2 kg m−2) and subjects with MetSyn (n = 8, 29 ± 3 years BMI 39 ± 2 kg m−2) when compared with lean adults (n = 13, 29 ± 2 years, BMI 24 ± 1 kg m−2). We measured forearm blood flow (FBF, Doppler Ultrasound) and arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) during rest and steady-state dynamic forearm exercise (20 contractions/min at 8 and 12 kg) under two conditions: normoxia (0.21 FiO2, ~98% SaO2) and hypoxia (~0.10 FiO2, 80% SaO2). Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated as FBF/mean arterial blood pressure. At rest, the percent change in FVC with hypoxia was greater in adults with MetSyn when compared with lean controls (p = 0.02); obese and lean adult responses were not statistically different. Exercise increased FVC from resting levels in all groups (p < 0.05). Hypoxia caused an additional increase in FVC (p < 0.05) that was not different between groups; responses to hypoxia were heterogeneous within and between groups. Reporting FVC responses as absolute or percent changes led to similar conclusions. These results suggest adults with MetSyn exhibit enhanced hypoxic vasodilation at rest. However, hypoxic responses during exercise in obese adults and adults with MetSyn were not statistically different when compared with lean adults. Individual hypoxic vasodilatory responses were variable, suggesting diversity in vascular control.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the subjects for their participation. In addition, we extend many thanks to John Harrell, Kathleen Grabowski, Adam Kiefer, Patrick Meyer, Caitlin Zillner, and Lee Linstroth for technical assistance. This study was supported by grants from the American Federation on Aging Research #A08235 (WGS), American Heart Association pre-doctoral awards #0815622G (JKL) and #10PRE3870000 (JKL) and American Heart Association post-doctoral award #0825858G (GMB).

Conflict of interest

There are no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, School of Education, University of Wisconsin, 1149 Natatorium, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Jacqueline K. Limberg, Trent D. Evans, David F. Pegelow, Jessica R. Danielson, Marlowe W. Eldridge & William G. Schrage

  2. E.A. 4488, Activité Physique, Muscle, Santé, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Lille 2, Ronchin, France

    Gregory M. Blain

  3. The John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Gregory M. Blain, David F. Pegelow & Marlowe W. Eldridge

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA

    David F. Pegelow & Marlowe W. Eldridge

  5. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA

    Lester T. Proctor & Joshua J. Sebranek

Authors
  1. Jacqueline K. Limberg
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  2. Trent D. Evans
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  3. Gregory M. Blain
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  4. David F. Pegelow
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  5. Jessica R. Danielson
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  6. Marlowe W. Eldridge
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  7. Lester T. Proctor
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  8. Joshua J. Sebranek
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  9. William G. Schrage
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacqueline K. Limberg.

Additional information

Communicated by Keith Phillip George.

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Limberg, J.K., Evans, T.D., Blain, G.M. et al. Effect of obesity and metabolic syndrome on hypoxic vasodilation. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 699–709 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2025-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2025-x

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