Arterial stiffness and sedentary lifestyle: Role of oxidative stress

• Published in: Vascular pharmacology Vol. 79; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Lessiani, Gianfranco, Santilli, Francesca, Boccatonda, Andrea, Iodice, Pierpaolo, Liani, Rossella, Tripaldi, Romina, Saggini, Raoul, Davì, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Arterial stiffness; Cardiovascular; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test - methods; Female; Hematology; Human health and pathology; Humans; Isoprostanes; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Sedentary Lifestyle; Tissues and Organs; Vascular Stiffness - physiology; SBP; NADPH; NO; Oxidative stress; eNOS; Arterial stiffness; SOD; Triglycerides; PWV; Cholesterol; ET; CVD; Isoprostanes; AS; Exercise; NSAIDs; ROS; MI; GSH; 8-iso-PGF2α; arterial stiffness; glutathione; myocardial infarction; pulse wave velocity; systolic blood pressure; reactive oxygen species; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; cardiovascular disease; nitric oxide; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; superoxide dismutase; exercise training
• ISSN: 1537-1891; 1879-3649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2015.05.017

Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and leads to a quantifiable impairment in vascular function and arterial wall stiffening. We tested the hypothesis of oxidative stress as a determinant of arterial stiffness (AS) in physically inactive subjects, and challenged the reversibility of these processes after the completion of an eight-week, high-intensity exercise training (ET). AS was assessed before and after ET, measuring carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) with a Vicorder device. At baseline and after ET, participants performed urine collection and underwent fasting blood sampling. Urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, an in vivo marker of lipid peroxidation, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were measured. ET was associated with significantly reduced urinary 8-iso-PGF2α(p<0.0001) levels. PWV was significantly reduced after ET completion (p<0.0001), and was directly related to urinary 8-iso-PGF2α(Rho=0.383, p=0.021). After ET, cardiovascular fitness improved [peak oxygen consumption (p<0.0001), peak heart rate (p<0.0001)]. However, no improvement in lipid profile was observed, apart from a significant reduction of triglycerides (p=0.022). PWV and triglycerides were significantly related (Rho=0.466, p=0.005) throughout the study period. PWV levels were also related to urinary 8-iso-PGF2α in our previously sedentary subjects. We conclude that regular physical exercise may be a natural antioxidant strategy, lowering oxidant stress and thereby the AS degree. [Display omitted]