title: Effects of exercise training and resveratrol on vascular health in aging.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the western world with aging being one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular events. Aging is associated with impaired vascular function due to endothelial dysfunction and altered redox balance, partly caused by an increased formation of reactive oxygen species combined with a reduction in the endogenous antioxidant capacity. The consequence of these alterations is a reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) with implications for aspects such as control of vascular tone and low grade inflammation. However, it is not only aging per se but also the accumulative influence of physical inactivity and other life-style factors, which negatively affect the vascular system. Regular physical activity improves NO bioavailability, the redox balance and the plasma lipid profile and, at a functional level, reduces or even reverses a majority of the observed detrimental effects of aging on vascular function. The effects of aging and physical activity on vascular function are, in part, related to alterations in cellular signaling through sirtuin-1, AMPK and the estrogen receptor. The polyphenol resveratrol can activate these same pathways and has, in animals and in vitro models, been shown to act as a partial mimetic of physical activity. However, support for beneficial effects of resveratrol in human is weak and studies even show that resveratrol supplementation, similarly to supplementation with other antioxidants, can counteract the positive effects of physical activity. Regular physical activity remains the most effective way of maintaining and improving vascular health status and caution should be taken regarding potential interference of supplements on training adaptations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section for Integrative Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gliemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section for Integrative Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section for Integrative Physiology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: yhellsten@nexs.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Ylva
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hellsten
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: Aging; Exercise training; Redox status; Resveratrol; Vascular function