Seven Days Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting Improves Systemic Endothelial Function in Sedentary Men

Abstract

PURPOSE To examine the cumulative (7 days) effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on systemic endothelial function in sedentary men. METHODS Thirty sedentary men (33.93±5.72 years) participated in two randomized 7 days sitting trial (Sit group (control) vs. Breaks group). The protocol of Breaks group is as follows: 4-minute of moderate-intensity marching in place (walking) every 1 hour during business hour (total: 8 breaks/day). Assessment of brachial artery endothelial function using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and arterial stiffness indices (augmentation index, arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity) were measured before and after 7 days treatment. RESULTS Brachial artery FMD significantly increased after 7 days breaking up prolonged sitting treatment (Breaks groups, 9.65±2.61 to 9.62±2.6%) compared with 7 days prolonged sitting (Sit group, 8.37±3.41 to 10.11±3.75%) (interaction effect, p=.004). Arterial pressure (AP) significantly increased after treatment (Breaks group, 2.75±2.19 to 2.38±1.63 mmHg, p=.002) in Sit group but there was no change (Sit group, 1.00±3.18 to 2.50±9.23 mmHg) in Breaks groups (interaction effect, p=.008). CONCLUSIONS These finding show that 7 days regular breaking up prolonged sitting improve in FMD, compared with prolonged sitting. Therefore, regular breaking up prolonged sitting may improve systemic endothelial function in sedentary men.

Keywords

• breaking up prolonged sitting
• seven days
• vascular function
• marching in place