Effect of Acute Resistance Exercise on Arterial Stiffness Indices in Obese Young Men

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute resistance exercise on arterial stiffness related indices in obese young males. Twenty young college students were recruited for this study, and divided into obesity (BMI ≥ 27, n = 10) and control (BMI ＜ 24, n = 10) groups. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), systolic arterial pressure (SBP), ankle-brachial index (ABI), plasma nitric oxide (NO) and one repetition maximal test (1 RM) were measured prior to the experiment. On the day of experiment, all subjects performed an acute bout of moderate resistance exercise (6 sessions, 60% 1 RM, 8 repetitions for 3 sets), and then arterial stiffness variables, including CAVI, SBP, ABI and NO were measured immediately (P0) and 30 minutes after (post, P30) resistance exercise. Results indicated that CAVI of both groups were significantly decreased at P0 compared to pre-exercise, but returned to base level at P30. Plasma NO level in obesity group was significantly higher than that of control group, and significantly increased at P30. In addition, there were no significant differences of ABI between preand post-exercise in both groups. The results suggest that an acute bout of resistance exercise was unable to raise the arterial stiffness levels in obese young males, but increased the NO concentrations to promote the function of vascular endothelial cell.