Acute Effect of Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Stiffness in Fine Particulate Matter Environment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Abstracts PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the effect of one bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness under ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. METHODS In a randomized crossover design, seven healthy young men performed 30 minutes of treadmill running at 70% of heart rate peak under high PM2.5 and low PM2.5 exposure. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and augmentation index, a measure of pulse wave reflection before and after each exercise intervention. RESULTS Regardless of the PM2.5 exposure, brachial systolic blood pressure and heart rate increased in response to one bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (p<.05). However, the augmentation index adjusted at a heart rate of 75 beats/min, central diastolic blood pressure, central mean arterial pressure, and brachial diastolic blood pressure were increased after one bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise under the high PM2.5 condition (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at the high PM2.5 level may result in acute negative arterial stiffness and blood pressure responses even in healthy young men.

Keywords

• particulate matter
• fine particulate matter
• arterial stiffness
• blood pressure
• aerobic exercise