Aerobic Exercise Improves Microvascular Function in Older Adults

David M Hurley, Ewan R Williams, Jeff M Cross, Bradley R Riedinger, Ronald A Meyer, George S Abela, Jill M Slade, David M Hurley, Ewan R Williams, Jeff M Cross, Bradley R Riedinger, Ronald A Meyer, George S Abela, Jill M Slade

Abstract

Microvascular function is reduced with age, disease, and inactivity. Exercise is well known to improve vascular health and has the potential to improve microvascular function in aging and disease.

Purpose: The study aimed to assess changes in peripheral microvascular function in sedentary older adults after aerobic exercise training.

Methods: Twenty-three sedentary older adults (67 ± 5 yr, body mass index = 29 ± 5, mean ± SD) successfully completed a randomized 12-wk graded treadmill walking intervention. The exercise group (EX) performed 40 min of uphill walking 4 d·wk at 70% heart rate reserve. The control group (CON) maintained a sedentary lifestyle for 12 wk. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses of the soleus measured by magnetic resonance imaging were used to evaluate microvascular function; brief (1 s) maximal plantarflexion contractions were performed. Separately, blood flow in the popliteal artery was measured by ultrasound after brief contraction. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the calf was used to examine muscle oxidative capacity, and whole-body peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak) was used to confirm training-induced cardiorespiratory adaptations.

Results: Peak postcontraction BOLD response increased by 33% in EX (PRE, 3.3% ± 1.0%; POST, 4.4% ± 1.4%) compared with CON (PRE, 3.0% ± 1.3%; POST, 3.2% ± 1.5%), P < 0.05. EX with hypertension tended to show a blunted peak BOLD increase (n = 6, 15%) compared with EX normotensive (n = 7, 50%), P = 0.056. Peak postcontraction blood flow increased by 39% in EX (PRE, 217 ± 88 mL·min; POST, 302 ± 167 mL·min) compared with CON (PRE, 188 ± 54 mL·min; POST, 184 ± 44 mL·min), P < 0.05. EX muscle oxidative capacity (kPCr) improved by 40% (PRE, 1.60 ± 0.57 min; POST, 2.25 ± 0.80 min) compared with CON (PRE, 1.69 ± 0.28 min; POST, 1.76 ± 0.52 min), P < 0.05. V˙O2peak increased by 9% for EX (PRE, 19.0 ± 3.1 mL·kg·min; POST, 20.8 ± 2.9 mL·kg·min) compared with a 7% loss in CON (PRE, 21.9 ± 3.6 mL·kg·min; POST, 20.4 ± 3.5 mL·kg·min), P < 0.05.

Conclusion: Moderate aerobic exercise significantly improved microvascular function of the leg in older adults.

Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Muscle oxidative capacity and V.O2peak changes with exercise training. PCr changes measured from the calf are shown at rest (30 s), during dynamic PF (30 s), and during recovery (300 s) (A, B; mean ± SE). The recovery rate (kPCr) reflecting the muscle oxidative capacity is shown for individuals (lines) and groups (open bars) before (PRE) and after (POST) the training period (C). Peak whole-body oxygen consumption, V.O2peak, is shown for individuals (lines) and groups (open bars) before (PRE) and after (POST) the training period (D). For D, group bars include only subjects with pre- and posttesting. CON, control; EX, exercise. *P < 0.05 for the interaction between groups.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
The influence of exercise training on muscle BOLD responses. The time course of the BOLD response is shown after 1 s maximal PF (A, B; mean ± SE); the contraction is at time = 0, indicated with an arrow. The measured parameters from the time course are shown for individuals (lines) and groups (open bars) before (PRE) and after (POST) the training period (C, D, E). The symbols representing each individual are consistent with Figure 1. CON, control; EX, exercise, TTP, time to peak BOLD response. *P < 0.05 interaction between the groups.
FIGURE 3—
FIGURE 3—
The influence of exercise training on popliteal artery blood flow. The top graphs show the time course of blood flow increases after 1 s maximal PF (A, B; mean ± SE); the contraction is done at time = 0, indicated with an arrow. The bottom graph (C) shows the individual (lines) and group (open bars) peak blood flow responses before (PRE) and after (POST) the training period. The symbols representing each individual are consistent with Figure 1. CON, control; EX, exercise. *P < 0.05 for the interaction between groups.
FIGURE 4—
FIGURE 4—
The influence of hypertension and exercise training on muscle BOLD responses. The peak BOLD response is shown after 1-s PF for individuals (lines) and groups (open bars) before (PRE) and after (POST) exercise training. EX-N, exercise group normotensive; EX-H, exercise group hypertensive. *P = 0.058 for the interaction between the subgroups.

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