Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, F.02.126, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Atherosclerosis. 2010 Oct;212(2):621-7. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.06.012. Epub 2010 Jun 11.
Physical exercise has multiple beneficial health effects. Yearly, over five million persons walk a pilgrimage in various parts of the World, and this number is increasing. Here we report the effects on vascular function and cardiovascular risk factors of a 12-day pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Twenty-nine healthy male and female subjects between 40 and 70 years were included in the intervention group. The intervention consisted of the last 280 km of the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela. Twenty-nine control subjects were age- and gender-matched. Measures of endothelial function, vascular stiffness, autonomic function, and cardiovascular risk factors were measured 2 months and 2 weeks before the pilgrimage and 2 weeks and 2 months afterwards. During the pilgrimage cardiovascular risk factors, including weight, lipids, glucose and blood pressure were measured every other day.
The mean daily walking distance during the pilgrimage was 23.42±0.80 km taking 5.39±0.36 h/day. From start to end, HDL-cholesterol increased (0.20±0.30 mmol/L; +15%), while LDL-cholesterol (-0.6±0.6 mmol/L; -17%) and weight (-1.4±1.8 kg; -2%) decreased. After an initial rise, blood pressure came back to baseline. Two months after the pilgrimage a 2.0 kg weight loss persisted compared to the controls. There was no change in any vascular function parameter compared to the controls.
Walking a pilgrimage immediately influences major cardiovascular risk factors as a consequence of (strenuous) exercise and, likely, dietary changes. Two months after the pilgrimage these changes came back to baseline, except for weight loss. There was no effect on vascular function.
体育锻炼对健康有多种有益影响。每年，全世界有超过 500 万人在不同地区进行朝圣之旅，而且这个数字还在不断增加。在这里，我们报告了在西班牙圣地亚哥德孔波斯特拉进行为期 12 天的朝圣之旅对血管功能和心血管危险因素的影响。
我们将 29 名年龄在 40 至 70 岁之间的健康男性和女性受试者纳入干预组。干预措施包括朝圣路线的最后 280 公里到达圣地亚哥德孔波斯特拉。另外 29 名年龄和性别匹配的对照受试者。在朝圣之旅前 2 个月和 2 周以及之后 2 周和 2 个月，测量内皮功能、血管僵硬、自主功能和心血管危险因素。在朝圣之旅期间，每隔一天测量心血管危险因素，包括体重、血脂、血糖和血压。
朝圣期间的平均日步行距离为 23.42±0.80 公里，每天用时 5.39±0.36 小时。从开始到结束，HDL 胆固醇增加（0.20±0.30mmol/L；增加 15%），而 LDL 胆固醇（-0.6±0.6mmol/L；减少 17%）和体重（-1.4±1.8kg；减少 2%）下降。血压在最初升高后恢复到基线。与对照组相比，朝圣结束后 2 个月体重仍减轻 2.0kg。与对照组相比，血管功能参数没有变化。
步行朝圣会立即因（剧烈）运动和可能的饮食变化而影响主要心血管危险因素。朝圣结束后 2 个月，这些变化恢复到基线，除了体重减轻。对血管功能没有影响。
