title: Lifestyle modification decreases arterial stiffness and plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine level in overweight and obese men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Arterial stiffness is higher in obese individuals than in nonobese individuals. Lifestyle modifications (i.e. exercise and dietary modification) decrease arterial stiffness in obese individuals. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, an enzyme responsible for the generation of nitric oxide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine whether lifestyle modifications affect circulating levels of ADMA in overweight and obese men and, if they do, whether ADMA is involved in the mechanism underlying the decrease in arterial stiffness with lifestyle modification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen overweight and obese men (BMI: 29.8±0.8 kg/m(2)) completed a 12-week lifestyle modification program, which included aerobic exercise and dietary modification. Before and after the intervention, we evaluated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an index of arterial stiffness, and plasma ADMA concentration in all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the 12-week lifestyle modification program, BMI and baPWV decreased significantly and the plasma ADMA concentration decreased markedly in overweight and obese men. There was a significant positive correlation between percent change in baPWV and plasma ADMA concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifestyle modifications reduce arterial stiffness and plasma ADMA concentration in overweight and obese individuals. A decrease in arterial stiffness was associated with a corresponding reduction in plasma ADMA concentrations. These results suggest that reductions in ADMA may be an important mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of lifestyle modification on arterial stiffness.
authors.affiliation: aFaculty of Health and Sport Sciences bFaculty of Medicine cGraduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eto
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Kiyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajisaka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine