The Role of Lifelong Physical Activity on Cardiovascular Function

Abstract

IntroductionAgeing is associated with vascular dysfunction and a reduced capacity of the central circulation to deliver O2 to the contracting muscles. The purpose of present study was to investigate the role of lifelong physical activity level on vascular function and hemodynamics during whole‐body exercise.MethodsVascular function was determined by femoral arterial Ach infusion (10, 25 and 100 μg/min/kg leg mass) and central (ICG) and limb (thermodilution) hemodynamics were measured during incremental cycling to exhaustion with and without simultaneous arm cycling (50w) were determined in 9 young (Y) (23±1 years; mean±SEM), 9 lifelong sedentary elderly (SE) (66±2 years), 8 lifelong moderately‐active elderly (MAE) (64±2 years) and 8 lifelong very active elderly (VAE) (65±2 years) men. Data was analyzed with one‐way repeated measure ANOVA (within groups) and two‐way ANOVA (between groups).ResultsThe vasodilatory response to ACh was lowest in the SE, higher in MAE and VAE (P <0.05) and highest in the Y (P <0.05). During incremental cycling, peak workload was higher in the VAE (313±10 W) and MAE (274±14 W) compared to Y and SE (247±13; 191±3 W; P<0.05). Leg blood flow (LBF) increased similarly in VAE, MAE and SE, but peak values were higher in VAE, MAE and Y compared to SE (7.8±0.5; 7.9±0.9; 8.6±0.4 vs. 6.4±0.4 L/min; P<0.05). Leg a‐vO2 difference was higher in VAE and MAE compared to the Y and SE at all workloads (P<0.05), whereas leg VO2 was higher in VAE, MAE and Y compared to SE at exhaustion (P<0.05). During combined arm and leg cycling LBF, leg a‐vO2 difference and VO2 was lower in Y and SE compared to leg cycling alone (P<0.05). Mean arterial pressure increased in all groups, but was lower in Y (P<0.05).ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that lifelong moderate physical activity can maintain aerobic power despite a lower vascular function and exercise hyperemia by an increase in O2 extraction.