Abstract
Introduction: Chronic aerobic exercise training is associated with favorable long term cardiovascular effects. Hypothesis: We investigated the acute effects of continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (CAE) and high intensity interval aerobic exercise (hIAE) on endothelial function, arterial stiffness and inflammatory status in healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty healthy men (mean aged 22.6±3.3yr) were recruited in this cross-over study. They participated in two exercise sessions: a) CAE: volume at 50% of maximum aerobic work on a cycle ergometer for 30 min and b) hIAE: interval maximum aerobic work on a cycle ergometer for 30 min. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and femoral-dorsalis pedis PWV (fdPWV) were measured as indices of central aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness. Intereleukin (IL)-17 levels were measured with ELISA. Measurements were carried out before and immediately after each exercise session. Results: There was no significant differences in baseline measurements before CAE and hIAE, regarding FMD, cfPWV and fdPWV and IL-17 levels (p=NS for all). Both CAE (8.57±2.55% vs. 6.37±1.48% p<0.001) and hIAE (8.48±2.60% vs. 5.95±1.78% p<0.001) significantly improved FMD, compared to baseline. The magnitude of FMD improvement was not different between CAE and hIAE (p=NS). Moreover, compared to baseline measurements, CAE (9.27±1.11m/sec vs. 8.17±1.48m/sec, p=0.003) and hIAE (9.14±1.07m/sec vs. 8.26±0.8m/sec, p<0.001) improved fdPWV. Though, CAE and hIAE had no impact in cfPWV, compared to baseline measurements (p=NS for both). Finally, there was no significant difference in IL-17 levels after CAE [11(9-17) pg/ml vs. 16(12-22)pg/ml, p=0.23] and hIAE [12(9-17)pg/ml vs. 14(9-15)pg/ml, p=0.61], compared to baseline measurements. Conclusions: Both CAE and hIAE can favorably affect to a similar extent endothelial function suggesting another cardioprotective effect of exercise on atherosclerosis progression. Though, these types of aerobic exercise have a different impact on central and peripheral arterial stiffness. Whether both types of exercise exert similar long-term effects merits further investigation.
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