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Influence of aerobic fitness on vasoreactivity in young men

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous work has demonstrated a direct relationship between aerobic fitness and vasodilatory function (i.e., flow-mediated dilation; FMD); however, the relation between aerobic fitness and vasoconstrictor responsiveness (i.e., low flow-mediated constriction; L-FMC), and the overall vasoactive range (FMD + L-FMC) is unclear.

Purpose

To test the hypothesis that L-FMC and the overall vasoactive range (FMD + L-FMC) will be related to aerobic fitness in young, healthy men.

Methods

Twenty men (age: 23 ± 5 years) were recruited, and divided evenly into a higher (HF) vs. lower (LF) aerobic fitness group, quantified via YMCA cycle ergometry (VO2 peak extrapolation), and a 3-min step test (1-min heart rate recovery). Duplex Doppler-ultrasound was used to assess brachial artery FMD and L-FMC.

Results

Estimated VO2 peak (HF = 55 ± 10 vs. LF = 38 ± 5 mL/kg/min) and heart rate recovery (HF = 36 ± 10 vs. LF = 25 ± 8 beats) were greater in the HF group (P < 0.05). FMD and the vasoactive range were similar between groups; however, L-FMC was significantly greater in HF (HF = −2.5 ± 1.6 vs. LF = −0.7 ± 1.8%, P < 0.05; d = 1.18). A correlational analysis revealed an inverse relationship between L-FMC and both HR recovery (r = −0.665, P < 0.01) and estimated VO2 peak (r = −0.5, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This work supports an association between L-FMC and aerobic fitness in young, healthy men. Longitudinal or interventional studies are warranted to support causality, and to distinguish whether L-FMC is more sensitive to changes in aerobic fitness than FMD.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

Area under curve,

AVI:

Audio visual interleave

BP:

Blood pressure

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

ECG:

Electrocardiography

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilation

FMD + L-FMC:

Numerical sum for vasoactive range

HF:

Higher fit

LF:

Lower fit

L-FMC:

Low flow-mediated constriction

Nm:

Newton meters

OSI:

Oscillatory shear index

RPM:

Revolutions per minute

VO2 :

Oxygen consumption

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the time and effort put in by all volunteer subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA

    Preston L. Bell, Edward T. Kelley, Stephanie M. McCoy & Daniel P. Credeur

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  1. Preston L. Bell
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  2. Edward T. Kelley
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  3. Stephanie M. McCoy
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  4. Daniel P. Credeur
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Contributions

Author contributions

PLB and DPC, conception and design of research; PLB, ETK, SMM, and DPC, performed experiments; PLB and DPC analyzed data; PLB, ETK, SMM, and DPC, interpreted results of experiment; PLB, prepared figures; PLB, and DPC, drafted manuscript; PLB, ETK, SMM, and DPC edited and revised manuscript; and PLB, ETK, SMM, and DPC, approved final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Daniel P. Credeur.

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No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the author(s).

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Communicated by Mark Olfert.

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Bell, P.L., Kelley, E.T., McCoy, S.M. et al. Influence of aerobic fitness on vasoreactivity in young men. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 2075–2083 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3698-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3698-6

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