The relationship between arterial stiffness and maximal oxygen consumption in healthy young adults.

OBJECTIVE

Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in various populations. There was little research on the relationship between arterial stiffness and maximal aerobic capacity (VO) in healthy young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between VO and arterial stiffness in young adults.

METHODS

The subjects were 13 men and 10 women with mean age of 22.9 ± 0.7, 23.6 ± 0.4 years, respectively. Height, weight, body mass index, body fat (%), waist to hip ratio, total/high density lipoprotein (HDL)/low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, glycated hemoglobin and blood lactate were measured. In addition, peripheral arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and VO was determined using graded exercise test.

RESULTS

VO had no significant correlation with baPWV (r = 0.2, p = 0.2). Total cholesterol correlated significantly to variables such as HDL (r = 0.6, p = 0.0015) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.6, p = 0.0018). VO had a significant association with triglyceride (r = -0.5, p = 0.0033).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that there is no relationship between arterial stiffness and aerobic capacity in healthy young adults.