Arterial Stiffness Responses To Lower-body Low-intensity Resistance Exercise In Vegetarian And Non-vegetarian Women

Abstract

Arterial stiffness is associated with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality. Lower-body low-intensity resistance exercise (LIRE) with slow eccentric phase appears to not evoke an acute increase in arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV). Vegetarians (VEG) have better cardiovascular profiles than non-vegetarians (NV), but their arterial stiffness and acute responses to LIRE are unknown. PURPOSE: To evaluate the PWV responses after an acute bout of LIRE in VEG and NV. METHODS: We evaluated healthy females (N = 25, 25.1 ± 5.9 y, BMI 23.2 ± 3.4) who were VEG (n = 12, 25.2 ± 6.1 y, BMI 23.8 ± 3.5) or NV (n = 13, 24.3 ± 5.8 y, BMI 22.6 3.3) for at least 1 y. They underwent a LIRE bout consisting of 3 sets of 20 repetition maximum (leg press, leg flexion, calf raises, leg extension) with 1 min of interset rest and lifting velocity of 2 s concentric and 3 s eccentric phases. Brachial-ankle (baPWV), carotid-femoral (cfPWV), and femoral-ankle (faPWV) PWV, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean (MAP) were taken before (REST) and at 3 (PE3), 20 (PE20), and 40 (PE40) min post-exercise. RESULTS: Subject characteristics and resting cardiovascular measures were similar in both groups. BaPWV and faPWV were significantly (*p < 0.05) decreased through the post-exercise period in both groups. SBP was significantly (*p < 0.05) increased at PE3 in both groups. MAP and HR were significantly (*p < 0.05) increased through the post-exercise period in both groups. CONCLUSION: Lower-body LIRE with slow movement acutely decreased systemic and peripheral PWV. The lack of increase in cfPWV was dissociated from the increase in MAP. Diet appears to not have influence on cardiovascular responses to lower-body LIRE in young healthy women.