•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a nitric oxide-dependent measure of conduit artery endothelial function that is potentiated by moderate- and high-intensity steady state exercise (SSE) for up to an hour after exercise; however, it is unclear whether high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) provides a longer-lasting stimulus for enhancing FMD or greater oxidative and nitrative stress on the vascular endothelium than a comparable or greater amount of SSE. PURPOSE: Determine the influence of HIIE on post-exercise brachial artery FMD and the relationship between FMD and markers of endothelial function relative to a comparable amount of moderate-intensity SSE and a dose that is half that of SSE. METHODS: Seventeen male participants (age 27.8 + 6.4 yr; weight 80.6 + 9.0 kg; BMI 25.1 + 2.4 kg/m2; VO2max 52.1 + 7.5 ml/kg/min) underwent HIIE by treadmill running (90% and 40% of VO2reserve in 3:2 min ratio) to expend 500 kcals; HIIE to expend 250 kcals, and; SSE at 70% VO2reserve to expend 500 kcals in a randomized crossover design. All exercise conditions averaged 70% VO2reserve. Ultrasound measurements of brachial artery FMD and blood measures of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in copper reducing equivalents, apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA1: g/L), PON1 concentration (PON1c: mg/mL), arylesterase activity (PON1a: kU/L), soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1: ng/mL) and nitrotyrosine (NT: nM) were obtained just before and 2 hr after exercise. FMD responses to exercise were analyzed using 3 (condition) by 2 (sample point) repeated measures ANOVAs. Pearson product-moment correlations of change variables (2 hr post-exercise – pre-exercise values) were calculated to determine relationships between FMD responses and blood variable responses to exercise. RESULTS: Brachial artery FMD responses were unaltered 2 hr after exercise in all three conditions (p > 0.05). FMD responses were correlated with changes in PON1c (r = 0.221, p < 0.0001) and inversely with changes TAC (r = -0.170, p < 0.0001). Changes in s-VCAM1 were correlated with change in NT (r = 0.423, p < 0.0001) and inversely with changes in PON1c (r = -0.177, p < 0.0001). SUMMARY: Brachial artery FMD is unaltered 2 hr after HIIE or SSE of moderate duration in young fit men and does not appear to be related to responses in other markers of endothelial function.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.