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Aerobic exercise improves microvascular function in older adults
Hurley DM, Williams ER, Cross JM, Riedinger BR, Meyer RA, Abela GS, Slade JM
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2019 Apr;51(4):773-781
clinical trial
4/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

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 (VO2peak) 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. VO2peak 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.

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