Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated a direct relationship between aerobic fitness and vasodilatory function (i.e., flow-mediated dilation; FMD); however, the relation between aerobic fitness and vasoconstrictor responsiveness (i.e., low flow-mediated constriction; L-FMC), and the overall vasoactive range (FMD + L-FMC) is unclear.
Purpose
To test the hypothesis that L-FMC and the overall vasoactive range (FMD + L-FMC) will be related to aerobic fitness in young, healthy men.
Methods
Twenty men (age: 23 ± 5 years) were recruited, and divided evenly into a higher (HF) vs. lower (LF) aerobic fitness group, quantified via YMCA cycle ergometry (
V
O
2
peak extrapolation), and a 3-min step test (1-min heart rate recovery). Duplex Doppler-ultrasound was used to assess brachial artery FMD and L-FMC.
Results
Estimated
V
O
2
peak (HF = 55 ± 10 vs. LF = 38 ± 5 mL/kg/min) and heart rate recovery (HF = 36 ± 10 vs. LF = 25 ± 8 beats) were greater in the HF group (
P
< 0.05). FMD and the vasoactive range were similar between groups; however, L-FMC was significantly greater in HF (HF = −2.5 ± 1.6 vs. LF = −0.7 ± 1.8%,
P
< 0.05;
d
= 1.18). A correlational analysis revealed an inverse relationship between L-FMC and both HR recovery (
r
= −0.665,
P
< 0.01) and estimated
V
O
2
peak (
r
= −0.5,
P
< 0.05).
Conclusions
This work supports an association between L-FMC and aerobic fitness in young, healthy men. Longitudinal or interventional studies are warranted to support causality, and to distinguish whether L-FMC is more sensitive to changes in aerobic fitness than FMD.