In this study, the relationship between age, carotid artery remodeling, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation is investigated in sedentary subjects and athletes. Thirty-two young and old healthy sedentary subjects and 32 age-matched endurance athletes underwent ultrasonography of the carotid wall for measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) and corrected integrated backscatter (C-IBS), two early indicators of the atherosclerosis process. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by intra-brachial acetylcholine (strain-gauge plethysmography), at baseline and during NO sythase inhibitor N-G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and the antioxidant Vitamin C. Response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was also evaluated. Independently of trained status, IMT and C-IBS were higher in older than in young individuals (p < 0.0001), while response to acetylcholine, but not to SNP, was lower (p < 0.0001). Older athletes showed lower IMT, lower C-IBS (p < 0.0001), greater response to acetylcholine (p < 0.0001), and greater inhibition of acetylcholine by L-NMMA (p < 0.001) than oldercontrols. Only in older sedentary individuals, Vitamin C increased response to acetylcholine (p < 0.001) and restored the inhibiting effect of L-NMMA (p < 0.01). In the whole population maximal acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was inversely related to IMT (r=-0.60, p < 0.0001) and to C-IBS (r=-0.56,p < 0.0001). In conclusion, regular physical training can attenuate the age-related impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which is related to an attenuation of the age-induced remodeling of the carotid wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation and carotid artery wall remodeling in athletes and sedentary subjects

GALETTA, FABIO;FRANZONI, FERDINANDO;VIRDIS, AGOSTINO;GHIADONI, LORENZO;TADDEI, STEFANO;SALVETTI, ANTONIO;SANTORO, GINO
2006-01-01

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between age, carotid artery remodeling, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation is investigated in sedentary subjects and athletes. Thirty-two young and old healthy sedentary subjects and 32 age-matched endurance athletes underwent ultrasonography of the carotid wall for measuring intima-media thickness (IMT) and corrected integrated backscatter (C-IBS), two early indicators of the atherosclerosis process. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by intra-brachial acetylcholine (strain-gauge plethysmography), at baseline and during NO sythase inhibitor N-G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and the antioxidant Vitamin C. Response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was also evaluated. Independently of trained status, IMT and C-IBS were higher in older than in young individuals (p < 0.0001), while response to acetylcholine, but not to SNP, was lower (p < 0.0001). Older athletes showed lower IMT, lower C-IBS (p < 0.0001), greater response to acetylcholine (p < 0.0001), and greater inhibition of acetylcholine by L-NMMA (p < 0.001) than oldercontrols. Only in older sedentary individuals, Vitamin C increased response to acetylcholine (p < 0.001) and restored the inhibiting effect of L-NMMA (p < 0.01). In the whole population maximal acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was inversely related to IMT (r=-0.60, p < 0.0001) and to C-IBS (r=-0.56,p < 0.0001). In conclusion, regular physical training can attenuate the age-related impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which is related to an attenuation of the age-induced remodeling of the carotid wall. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
2006
Galetta, Fabio; Franzoni, Ferdinando; Virdis, Agostino; Ghiadoni, Lorenzo; Taddei, Stefano; Salvetti, Antonio; Santoro, Gino
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/179372
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