Effects of aerobic physical exercise on inflammation and atherosclerosis in men: the DNASCO Study: a six-year randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Although regular physical activity is recommended for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, no data are available on its antiatherosclerotic effects in the general population.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether progressive aerobic exercise compared with usual activity slows progression of atherosclerosis in men.


METHODS
A 6-year randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Eastern Finland.


METHODS
140 middle-aged men randomly selected from the population registry.


METHODS
Low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.


METHODS
Atherosclerosis was quantitated ultrasonographically as the mean intima-media thickness in the carotid artery at baseline and at years 2 through 6.


RESULTS
On the basis of intention-to-treat analyses, a 19.5% net increase (P < 0.001) in ventilatory aerobic threshold was evident in the exercise group after 6 years. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were statistically nonsignificantly lower in the exercise group than in the control group (P > 0.2). The progression of intima-media thickness in the carotid artery did not differ between the study groups (P > 0.2). A subgroup analysis that excluded men taking statins showed that the 6-year progression of intima-media thickness, adjusted for smoking and annual measures of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference, was 40% less in the exercise group (0.12 mm [95% CI, -0.010 to 0.26 mm]) than in the control group (0.20 mm [CI, 0.05 to 0.35 mm]).


CONCLUSIONS
Only middle-aged white men were included. The intervention included mainly aerobic exercises.


CONCLUSIONS
Aerobic physical exercise did not attenuate progression of atherosclerosis, except in a subgroup of men not taking statins.
Rauramaa
Rainer
R
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine, University of Kuopio, and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. rainer.rauramaa@uku.fi
Halonen
Pirjo
P
Väisänen
Sari B
SB
Lakka
Timo A
TA
Schmidt-Trucksäss
Arno
A
Berg
Aloys
A
Penttilä
Ilkka M
IM
Rankinen
Tuomo
T
Bouchard
Claude
C
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002097:C-Reactive Protein