title: Does arterial health affect VO2peak and muscle oxygenation in a sedentary cohort?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An association between arterial health and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) has been demonstrated; however, little is known about how arterial health influences muscular oxygenation during exercise. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the relations between arterial health, VO2peak, and muscle oxygenation in a middle-age sedentary population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radial augmentation index (AIx) (via pulse wave analysis) of 21 sedentary middle-age participants (15 females and six males; age, 54.7 ± 5.4; body mass index, 29.0 ± 4.7 kg·m; mean ± SD) was assessed, and on another day ( < 7 d), participants completed a modified Bruce protocol (MBP). Using near-infrared spectroscopy, total oxygenation index (TOI) of the left flexor carpi ulnaris and the left vastus lateralis were monitored throughout the MBP. Independent and average (arm + leg) percentage decrease in TOI between stage 1 of the MBP and maximal exertion (TOIdiff) during MBP was calculated. Changes between dependent variables were correlated using Pearson product-moment correlations and were interpreted as follows: r > 0.5, strong; 0.5 > r > 0.3, moderate; and r < 0.3, weak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed moderate negative correlation between AIx and VO2peak (r = -0.34, -0.63 to -0.03; Pearson correlation, 90% confidence limits) and strong negative correlation between AIx and average TOIdiff (r = -0.58, -0.78 to -0.27). The VO2peak and average TOIdiff were strongly correlated (r = 0.55, 0.23-0.77).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial health seems to be an important determinant of muscle oxygenation during exercise. In turn, muscle oxygenation during exercise is strongly related to VO2peak. Developing training modalities to prioritize arterial health outcomes may be a useful way of improving VO2peak in this population.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport, Lincoln University, Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND; 2School of Sport and Physical Education, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND; 3The School of Sport and Exercise, Massey University, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND; 4Department of Physiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND; and 5School of Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM.
authors.forename: Catherine Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lizamore
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.forename: Samuel John Edwin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucero
authors.forename: Michael John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hamlin
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D059289:Vascular Stiffness