title: The impact of physical activity on endothelial function in middle-aged and elderly subjects: the Ikaria study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercise training and physical activity (PA) have substantial vascular and cardiac health benefits. Ikaria Island has been recognised as having one of the highest longevity rates worldwide and a high percentage of healthy ageing. We examined the relationship between endothelial function and levels of habitual PA to evaluate the factors related to healthy ageing in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on a subgroup population of the IKARIA study consisting of 185 middle-aged (40-65 years) and 142 elderly subjects (66-91 years). Endothelial function was evaluated by ultrasound measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). PA was evaluated using the shortened version of the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Subjects in the low PA group (<500 MET/ min/week) were considered as physically inactive and the rest as active.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall study population FMD was inversely associated with age (r=-0.24, p<0.001) and middle-aged subjects had higher FMD compared with the elderly (6.26 ± 3.31% vs. 5.21 ± 2.95%, p=0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that among middle-aged subjects the physically active had higher FMD compared with the physically inactive. Physically active subjects in the middle-aged group showed higher FMD compared with the physically active elderly (p=0.008). However, there was no difference in FMD values between middle-aged inactive subjects and the elderly physically active (p=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that increased PA was associated with improved endothelial function in middle-aged subjects and that PA in elderly subjects can ameliorate the devastating effects of ageing on arterial wall properties.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. gsiasos@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siasos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrysohoou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaromitidou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zisimos
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinos
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazaris
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kampaksis
authors.forename: Athanasios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Papavassiliou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsavos
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography