Regular Intermittent Aerobic Exercise Reduces Arterial Stiffness Associated with Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Middle-Aged and Older Individuals

Abstract

Hardening of arterial walls associated with elevated postprandial blood glucose levels increases the risk of cardiovascular disease; however, the impact of intermittent aerobic training on reducing arterial stiffness is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the chronic effects of intermittent aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness during hyperglycemia in middle-aged adults: 30 healthy middle-aged adults were randomly assigned to an 8-week intermittent aerobic training group (n = 15, jogging or running, 30 min/run, 3 times/week, 65% reserve heart rate) and a control group (n = 15, no training). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) of carotid-femoral (cf) and brachial-ankle (ba), heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose was measured before a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 30, 60, and 90 min after the test, before the exercise intervention, and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention. The baPWV and blood glucose levels before the intervention were elevated at 30, 60, and 90 min in both groups compared to levels before the 75 g OGTT (p p p < 0.01). These results indicate that intermittent aerobic exercise training may reduce the acute increase in arterial stiffness after hyperglycemia.

Keywords

• arterial stiffness
• glucose ingestion
• middle-aged and older patients
• intermittent aerobic training