Association of vitamin D deficiency with post-exercise hypotension and arterial stiffness following prolonged endurance exercise in healthy young men

Abstract

Background Vitamin D is associated with vascular function; however, the impact of different vitamin D levels on vascular elasticity following prolonged exercise remains uncertain. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association of vitamin D levels with changes in peripheral pulse wave velocity (pPWV) and the magnitude of acute post-exercise hypotension (PEH) following prolonged endurance exercise in healthy young men.Methods All the participants were divided into two groups: the 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) sufficiency group (25(OH)D ≧50 nmol/L) and the deficiency group (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L). A cardiopulmonary exercise test for maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2max) was performed on the graded cycling. The prolonged exercise was set at 60% [Formula: see text]O2max for 120 min of continuous riding on a stationary bicycle. The pPWV and blood pressure were measured at baseline and 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 min after prolonged endurance exercise.Results Post hoc analysis revealed that the vitamin D sufficient group had a greater magnitude of PEH than the deficiency group at post-45 min. Multiple linear regression analyses showed a significant correlation between 25(OH)D and both pPWV (p = 0.036) and PEH (p = 0.007), after adjusting for [Formula: see text]O2max, weight, height, and physical activity. In addition, the 25(OH)D deficiency group also had higher pPWV at post-15 min (5.41 ± 0.93 vs 4.84 ± 0.75 m/s), post-30 min (5.30 ± 0.77 vs 4.87 ± 0.50 m/s), post-45 min (5.56 ± 0.93 vs 5.05 ± 0.68 m/s) than the sufficiency group.Conclusions There was a positive correlation between 25(OH)D levels and systolic PEH following prolonged endurance exercise. Individuals with sufficient 25(OH)D status may have better vascular elasticity and more efficient blood pressure regulation during exercise.

Keywords

• Post-exercise hypotension
• vascular function
• 25(OH)D
• aerobic exercise
• vascular elasticity