Increasing physical education in high school students: effects on concentration of circulating endothelial progenitor cells.
OBJECTIVE
Levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), that can be increased by regular exercise, correlate with vascular function. In the context of primary prevention, the impact of regular physical activity on the amount and function of EPC has not yet been investigated in school children.


METHODS
Four sixth grade classes of high school students (n=92) were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (IG) with daily physical exercise (45 min) at school or to the control group (CG) with conventional physical education (PE) (2 h/week). In addition, one sixth grade class at a high school focused on competitive sports (PE) served as a reference group. After 1 school year, exercise capacity and the amount and function of EPCs were evaluated.


RESULTS
After 1 year, a significantly higher Vo2max was evident in the intervention group. Nevertheless, exercise capacity did not reach the level of children from PE. In addition, exercise intervention was successful in increasing the amount of EPCs but failed to increase the migratory capacity of the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The result of this study shows, that intensified, supervised school sports leads to an increase in exercise capacity and EPCs in children. Nevertheless, its effect on primary prevention in cardiovascular disease has to be proven in further longitudinal studies.
Walther
Claudia
C
Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. waltherc@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Adams
Volker
V
Bothur
Inga
I
Drechsler
Kati
K
Fikenzer
Sven
S
Sonnabend
Melanie
M
Bublitz
Beatrice
B
Körner
Antje
A
Erbs
Sandra
S
Busse
Martin
M
Schuler
Gerhard
G
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement; D002648:Child; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011322:Primary Prevention; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D018952:Antigens, CD34