title: Arterial stiffness and sedentary lifestyle: Role of oxidative stress.
abstract: Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and leads to a quantifiable impairment in vascular function and arterial wall stiffening. We tested the hypothesis of oxidative stress as a determinant of arterial stiffness (AS) in physically inactive subjects, and challenged the reversibility of these processes after the completion of an eight-week, high-intensity exercise training (ET). AS was assessed before and after ET, measuring carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) with a Vicorder device. At baseline and after ET, participants performed urine collection and underwent fasting blood sampling. Urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, an in vivo marker of lipid peroxidation, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations were measured. ET was associated with significantly reduced urinary 8-iso-PGF2α(p<0.0001) levels. PWV was significantly reduced after ET completion (p<0.0001), and was directly related to urinary 8-iso-PGF2α(Rho=0.383, p=0.021). After ET, cardiovascular fitness improved [peak oxygen consumption (p<0.0001), peak heart rate (p<0.0001)]. However, no improvement in lipid profile was observed, apart from a significant reduction of triglycerides (p=0.022). PWV and triglycerides were significantly related (Rho=0.466, p=0.005) throughout the study period. PWV levels were also related to urinary 8-iso-PGF2α in our previously sedentary subjects. We conclude that regular physical exercise may be a natural antioxidant strategy, lowering oxidant stress and thereby the AS degree.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lessiani
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccatonda
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iodice
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liani
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tripaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saggini
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Center of Excellence on Aging, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti, Italy. Electronic address: gdavi@unich.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davì
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: 8-iso-PGF2α; Arterial stiffness; Cholesterol; Exercise; Isoprostanes; Oxidative stress; Triglycerides