title: Habitual rowing exercise is associated with high physical fitness without affecting arterial stiffness in older men.
abstract: The present study elucidated the effects of habitual rowing exercise on arterial stiffness and plasma levels of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 and the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) in older men. Eleven rowers (68.0 ± 1.6 years) and 11 sedentary control older men (64.9 ± 1.1 years) were studied. Peak oxygen uptake (36.0 ± 1.7 vs. 27.7 ±1.9 ml · kg(-1) · min(-1)), leg press power (1346 ± 99 vs. 1077 ± 68 W), and HDL-cholesterol (75 ± 5 vs. 58 ±3 mg · ml(-1)) were higher and triglyceride (78 ± 9 vs. 120 ± 14 mg · ml(-1)) was lower in rowers than in control participants (all P < 0.05). Arterial stiffness indices (carotid β-stiffness and cardio-ankle vascular index) and plasma endothelin-1 and NOx (nitrite + nitrate) levels did not differ between the two groups. These results suggest that habitual rowing exercise in older men is associated with high muscle power and aerobic capacity, and favourable blood lipid profile without affecting arterial stiffness or plasma levels of endotheline-1 and NO.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama, Japan. hiroshi@aoni.waseda.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iemitsu
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gando
authors.forename: Toshimichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishijima
authors.forename: Meiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asaka
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokizawa
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Shizuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019332:Endothelin-1; D014280:Triglycerides; D009569:Nitric Oxide