title: Strongmen sport is associated with larger absolute heart size and impaired cardiac relaxation.
abstract: This study was carried out to compare cardiac structure and function and blood lipids among Strongmen, sedentary controls, and marathoners. Echocardiography was performed, and endothelial function, blood lipids and maximal oxygen uptake were measured in 27 Caucasian adult men (8 Strongmen, 10 marathoners, 9 controls). Absolute cardiac size parameters such as left ventricular (LV) diameter and wall thickness of Strongmen were higher (p < 0.05), but relative (body surface area indexed) parameters were not different between controls and Strongmen. In Strongmen, the relative LV diameter (p < 0.05), wall thickness (p < 0.001), and LV mass index (p < 0.01) were lower than in marathoners. The absolute but not relative right ventricular diameter was larger in Strongmen as compared with controls, whereas all of the measured relative cardiac size parameters were higher in marathoners as opposed to in controls. The endothelial function and the ratio of wall thickness to chamber diameter were similar among the groups (p > 0.05). Maximal oxygen uptake of Strongmen was lower than in controls (p < 0.05) and marathoners (p < 0.001). Global diastolic LV function of Strongmen was impaired in comparison to controls (p < 0.05) and marathoners (p < 0.05). Plasma lipids were not different between Strongmen and sedentary controls, but in comparison to runners, Strongmen had higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p < 0.05) and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.01). Participation in Strongmen sport is associated with higher absolute but not relative cardiac size parameters, impaired myocardial relaxation, and low cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, Strongmen may demand greater attention as an extreme group of athletes with regard to cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physiology and Sports Medicine, Kinesiotherapy, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Kalinas, Lithuania. t.venckunas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Venckunas
authors.forename: Donatas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vasiliauskas
authors.forename: Jolanta E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marcinkeviciene
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grizas
authors.forename: Arvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stasiulis
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malkova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D012306:Risk; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids