Department of Sports Medicine, Ege University School of Medicine Izmir, Turkey.
J Sports Sci Med. 2006 Jun 1;5(2):266-75. eCollection 2006.
As studying with population carrying no classical cardiovascular risk factors seems to be an advantage in isolating effects of regular exercise on endothelial functions, inflammatory and thrombotic activity; the present study was designed to evaluate the clear effects of long-term regular exercise in middle-aged, healthy men. A total of 32 regularly exercising (three times per week, 12.8 ± 6.8 years) men (Group I, mean age = 53.2 ± 6. 1 yrs) and 32 sex- and age-matched sedentary subjects (Group II, mean age = 51.0 ± 7.7 yrs) were involved in the study. All participants were non-smokers and with no history of hypertension and diabetes. During one day preceding tests, the subjects refrained from training and maintained their normal diet. In all subjects, body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (% BF) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were calculated. Serum uric acid, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen levels, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet count were measured. Resting heart rates and blood pressures were recorded and standard exercise stress test was applied using the modified Bruce protocol. Flow-mediated and nitrate-induced dilatation (FMD and NID) of the brachial artery and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were evaluated as markers of endothelial functions and early atherosclerosis. Mean BMI, % BF, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, WBC and platelet count, HbA1c, total and LDL cholesterol, hs-CRP and fibrinogen levels were similar between the groups. Group I had significantly lower serum glucose, uric acid and triglyceride (p < 0.05, p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively) and higher HDL cholesterol levels (p < 0.0001) than in Group II. FMD values were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (p < 0.005) while there were no significant differences in NID and cIMT measures between the groups. VO2max and cIMT showed a negative correlation in Group I (r = -0.463, p < 0.0001). Negative correlations also existed between VO2max and fibrinogen levels in both Group I and II (r = -0.355, p < 0.05 and r = -0.436, p < 0.05, respectively). These results are concordant with the concept of favorable effects of regular physical exercise on cardiovascular health based on enhancement of endothelial functions even in subjects who have low cardiovascular risk profile. Key PointsThe present study results suggest that regular exercise is effective on endothelial functions even in subjects who have low risk for cardiovascular disease.Therefore, regular exercise is feasible in improving endothelial functions independently from cardiovascular risk profile.
由于研究表明，在排除常规运动对内皮功能、炎症和血栓形成活性的影响时，研究人群不具有经典心血管危险因素似乎具有优势；因此，本研究旨在评估长期常规运动对中年健康男性的明确影响。共有 32 名经常运动（每周 3 次，12.8±6.8 年）的男性（I 组，平均年龄=53.2±6.1 岁）和 32 名性别和年龄匹配的久坐不动的受试者（II 组，平均年龄=51.0±7.7 岁）参与了这项研究。所有参与者均不吸烟，且无高血压和糖尿病病史。在测试前一天，受试者避免训练并保持正常饮食。在所有受试者中，计算了体重指数（BMI）、体脂百分比（% BF）和最大摄氧量（VO2max）。测量了血清尿酸、血糖、HbA1c、血脂、高敏 C 反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、纤维蛋白原水平、白细胞（WBC）和血小板计数。记录静息心率和血压，并应用改良 Bruce 方案进行标准运动应激测试。采用肱动脉血流介导的扩张（FMD）和硝酸盐诱导的扩张（NID）以及颈动脉内膜中层厚度（cIMT）评估内皮功能和早期动脉粥样硬化的标志物。两组间平均 BMI、% BF、收缩压和舒张压、WBC 和血小板计数、HbA1c、总胆固醇和 LDL 胆固醇、hs-CRP 和纤维蛋白原水平相似。I 组的血清葡萄糖、尿酸和甘油三酯水平明显低于 II 组（p<0.05、p<0.005 和 p<0.05），而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平明显高于 II 组（p<0.0001）。I 组的 FMD 值明显高于 II 组（p<0.005），而两组的 NID 和 cIMT 无显著差异。I 组 VO2max 与 cIMT 呈负相关（r=-0.463，p<0.0001）。I 组和 II 组 VO2max 与纤维蛋白原水平也呈负相关（r=-0.355，p<0.05 和 r=-0.436，p<0.05）。这些结果与常规体育锻炼对心血管健康的有益影响的概念一致，即即使在心血管疾病风险低的人群中，也能增强内皮功能。关键点本研究结果表明，即使在心血管疾病风险低的人群中，常规运动对内皮功能也具有积极作用。因此，常规运动可以改善内皮功能，而与心血管风险状况无关。
