Impact of reduced daily physical activity on conduit artery flow-mediated dilation and circulating endothelial microparticles

Physical inactivity promotes the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, few data exist examining the vascular consequences of short-term reductions in daily physical activity. Thus we tested the hypothesis that popliteal and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) would be reduced and concentrations of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) would be elevated following reduced daily physical activity. To examine this, popliteal and brachial artery FMD and plasma levels of EMPs suggestive of apoptotic and activated endothelial cells (CD31+/CD42b− and CD62E+ EMPs, respectively) were measured at baseline and during days 1, 3, and 5 of reduced daily physical activity in 11 recreationally active men (25 ± 2 yr). Subjects were instructed to reduce daily physical activity by taking <5,000 steps/day and refraining from planned exercise. Popliteal artery FMD decreased with reduced activity (baseline: 4.7 ± 0.98%, reduced activity day 5: 1.72 ± 0.68%, P < 0.05), whereas brachial artery FMD was unchanged. In contrast, baseline (pre-FMD) popliteal artery diameter did not change, whereas brachial artery diameter decreased (baseline: 4.35 ± 0.12, reduced activity day 5: 4.12 ± 0.11 P < 0.05) following 5 days of reduced daily physical activity. CD31+/CD42b− EMPs were significantly elevated with reduced activity (baseline: 17.6 ± 9.4, reduced activity day 5: 104.1 ± 43.1 per μl plasma, P < 0.05), whereas CD62E+ EMPs were unaltered. Collectively, our results provide evidence for the early and robust deleterious impact of reduced daily activity on vascular function and highlight the vulnerability of the vasculature to a sedentary lifestyle.

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Daily Physical Activity and Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Dilation in Older Adults

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000272955.29607.50 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 39 (Supplement) ◽

pp. S20

Author(s):

Michael A. Welsch ◽

Devon A. Dobrosielski ◽

Arturo A. Arce Esquivel ◽

Ryan Russell ◽

Eric Ravussin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Artery Flow

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Abstract 16530: Post-exercise Flow-mediated Dilation is augmented in Highly Trained Female Athletes

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.16530 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Daniela K Andaku ◽

Bruno Archiza ◽

Flavia C Caruso ◽

Katiany T Zangrando ◽

Humberto Lanzotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Velocity ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Maximal Exercise ◽

High Volume ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Brachial Artery Diameter ◽

Arterial Function ◽

Training History

Background: Recent evidence has indicated a ceiling to the benefits of exercise training that, if chronically surpassed, may have a negative effect on cardiac function. Conversely, improvements in peripheral arterial function may respond positively to chronic high volume training. Recent studies have shown that flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is decreased immediately after maximal exercise in sedentary subjects and is unaltered in subjects who participate in moderate volume exercise. We investigated the acute effects of maximal exercise on vascular function of elite female athletes with a high-volume training history. Methods: Fifteen elite female soccer players (mean age: 22.1 ± 4.4 years; BMI: 20.76 ± 1.75 kg/m2), with a high volume/intensity training history (4-6 hours per day) were evaluated. Subjects underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) on a treadmill (VO2max 41.1 ± 3.9 mLO2•kg-1•min-1). Brachial artery FMD was determined using high-resolution ultrasound before and immediately after CPX. Flow velocity were measured at baseline (BSL) and during reactive hyperemia (RH) both prior to and following exercise. Results: Brachial artery diameter increased during RH before (3.42 ± 0.38mm vs. 3.03 ± 0.28mm, p<0.001) and after CPX (3.61 ± 0.44mm vs. 3.10 ± 0.37mm, p<0.001). Importantly, FMD was increased following CPX compared to BSL (16.86 ± 9.04% vs. 12.95 ± 7.03%, p=0.027). There was significant increase in peak flow velocity during RH before (135.28 ± 42.19cm/s vs. 79.19 ± 28.14cm/s, p=0.001) and after CPX (139.15 ± 41.07cm/s vs. 87.64 ± 21.23cm/s, p<0.001) (Table). Conclusion: The results of the current study indicate that arterial function is improved following acute aerobic exercise in elite female athletes with a chronic high volume training history. These findings deviate from the emerging literature suggesting chronic high volume training may be detrimental to cardiovascular function in the long term.

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Heterogeneity in the vasodilatory function of individual extremities

Vascular ◽

10.1177/1708538119868411 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 87-95

Author(s):

Tomoyasu Kadoguchi ◽

Masahiro Horiuchi ◽

Shintaro Kinugawa ◽

Koichi Okita

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Grip Strength ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Popliteal Artery ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Vasodilatory Function

Objectives Heterogeneity and homogeneity in the flow-mediated dilation of the human body's individual extremities are not fully understood, and the relationship between flow-mediated dilation and local muscle activity is unclear. We assessed the flow-mediated dilation of four individual extremities and sought to determine the contribution of local muscle activity (evaluated as muscle strength) to the flow-mediated dilation in each extremity. Methods Thirteen healthy young right-handed nonactive males participated. The flow-mediated dilation in the brachial and popliteal arteries at both arms and legs was assessed by ultrasound Doppler. Muscle strength was evaluated as the grip strength and knee extension. Results There was a significant difference in the brachial artery (BA)-FMD values between the subjects' dominant and non-dominant sides (8.0 ± 2.8 vs. 5.5 ± 2.2%, p < 0.05), whereas the two sides showed similar popliteal artery (PA)-FMD values. There was no significant correlation in flow-mediated dilation between the dominant brachial artery and popliteal artery. The BA-FMD was significantly correlated with the grip strength in both upper extremities (dominant: r = 0.562, non-dominant: r = 0.548; p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion These results demonstrated heterogeneity in the flow-mediated dilation of individual extremities. We observed that local muscle activity can affect the local vascular function. Measurements of vasodilatory function in individual extremities should thus be carefully considered.

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Combined aerobic and resistance training and vascular function: effect of aerobic exercise before and after resistance training

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00327.2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 103 (5) ◽

pp. 1655-1661 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Takanobu Okamoto ◽

Mitsuhiko Masuhara ◽

Komei Ikuta

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Pulse Wave ◽

Aerobic Exercise Training ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Brachial Artery Diameter ◽

Combined Training ◽

Before And After

Aerobic exercise training combined with resistance training (RT) might prevent the deterioration of vascular function. However, how aerobic exercise performed before or after a bout of RT affects vascular function is unknown. The present study investigates the effect of aerobic exercise before and after RT on vascular function. Thirty-three young, healthy subjects were randomly assigned to groups that ran before RT (BRT: 4 male, 7 female), ran after RT (ART: 4 male, 7 female), or remained sedentary (SED: 3 male, 8 female). The BRT and ART groups performed RT at 80% of one repetition maximum and ran at 60% of the targeted heart rate twice each week for 8 wk. Both brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after combined training in the BRT group did not change from baseline. In contrast, baPWV after combined training in the ART group reduced from baseline (from 1,025 ± 43 to 910 ± 33 cm/s, P < 0.01). Moreover, brachial artery FMD after combined training in the ART group increased from baseline (from 7.3 ± 0.8 to 9.6 ± 0.8%, P < 0.01). Brachial artery diameter, mean blood velocity, and blood flow in the BRT and ART groups after combined training increased from baseline ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively). These values returned to the baseline during the detraining period. These values did not change in the SED group. These results suggest that although vascular function is not improved by aerobic exercise before RT, performing aerobic exercise thereafter can prevent the deteriorating of vascular function.

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Noninvasive Assessment of Endothelium-Dependent Flow-Mediated Dilation of the Brachial Artery

Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1177/1358863x9700200203 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 87-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 128

Author(s):

Akimi Uehata ◽

Eric H Lieberman ◽

Marie D Gerhard ◽

Todd J Anderson ◽

Peter Ganz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Endothelial Function ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Reactive Hyperemia ◽

Intraobserver Variability ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Noninvasive Technique ◽

Brachial Artery Diameter ◽

Cuff Occlusion

Coronary atherosclerosis is characterized by an early loss of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, the methods of assessing coronary endothelial function are invasive and difficult to repeat over time. Recently, a noninvasive ultrasound method has been widely used to measure flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery as a surrogate test for endothelial function. We seek to further validate this method of measuring vascular function. The brachial artery diameters and blood flow of 20 normal volunteers (10 males and 10 females) were measured using high resolution (7.5 MHz) ultrasound and strain gauge plethysmography. Flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation was measured in the brachial artery during reactive hyperemia after 5 minutes of cuff occlusion in the upper arm. The brachial artery diameter increased maximally by 9.7 ± 4.3% from baseline at 1 min after cuff release and blood flow increased by 1002 ± 376%. Five min of cuff occlusion was sufficient to achieve 97 ± 6% of maximal brachial artery dilation and degree of dilation was not different whether the cuff was inflated proximally or distally to the image site. The intraobserver variability in measuring brachial diameters was 2.9 % and the variability of the hyperemic response was 1.4%. In young, healthy men and women, the baseline brachial artery diameter was the only factor that was predictive of the flow-mediated vasodilation response. The brachial noninvasive technique has been further validated by the determination of flow-mediated dilation. This method of assessing endothelial function may help to determine the importance of vasodilator dysfunction as a risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis.

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Impaired popliteal artery flow-mediated dilation caused by reduced daily physical activity is prevented by increased shear stress

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00001.2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 123 (1) ◽

pp. 49-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

André L. Teixeira ◽

Jaume Padilla ◽

Lauro C. Vianna

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Shear Stress ◽

Popliteal Artery ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Vascular Dysfunction ◽

Underlying Mechanism ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Leg Blood Flow ◽

Artery Flow

We recently showed that 5 days of reduced daily physical activity impair popliteal artery, but not brachial artery, flow-mediated dilation (FMD). However, the mechanisms by which physical inactivity causes leg vascular dysfunction are unclear. We reason that a reduction in leg blood flow-induced shear stress is a primary underlying mechanism by which reduced daily physical activity impairs popliteal artery FMD. Thus the purpose of this study was to determine whether increased leg blood flow and shear stress during inactivity prevent the reduction in popliteal artery FMD. Bilateral popliteal artery FMD measures were performed at baseline and after 5 days of a transition from high (>10,000 steps/day) to low levels (<5,000 steps/day) of physical activity in 13 healthy and physically active men [20 ± 2 (SD) yr]. During the inactive period, one foot was submerged in ~42°C water (i.e., heated leg) three times a day for 30 min each period, to increase blood flow and thus shear stress, whereas the contralateral leg remained dry and served as internal control (i.e., nonheated leg). During heating, popliteal artery mean shear rate was increased in the heated leg (change of 119.3 ± 26.4%, P < 0.01) but slightly decreased in the nonheated leg (change of −21.8 ± 7.5%, P = 0.03). Popliteal artery FMD was impaired after 5 days of reduced daily physical activity in the control nonheated leg ( P < 0.01) but was unchanged in the heated leg ( P = 0.34). These results support the hypothesis that reduced leg blood flow-induced shear stress during physical inactivity is a key underlying mechanism mediating leg vascular dysfunction. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that the impairment in popliteal artery flow-mediated dilation caused by physical inactivity can be prevented by increased shear stress. These findings indicate that reduced leg blood flow-induced shear stress during physical inactivity may be a key underlying mechanism mediating the detrimental leg vascular effects of physical inactivity. Heating the foot area may be used as a nonpharmacological therapy to combat inactivity-induced leg vascular dysfunction, especially in people who are unable or unwilling to be active.

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Low flow-mediated constriction occurs in the radial but not the brachial artery in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00815.2009 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 108 (5) ◽

pp. 1097-1105 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Tracey L. Weissgerber ◽

Gregory A. L. Davies ◽

Michael E. Tschakovsky

Keyword(s):

Shear Rate ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Radial Artery ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Low Flow ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Brachial Artery Diameter ◽

Function Test ◽

Positive Correlations

Radial artery diameter decreases when a wrist cuff is inflated to stop blood flow to distal tissue. This phenomenon, referred to as low flow-mediated vasoconstriction (L-FMC), was proposed as a vascular function test. Recommendations that L-FMC be measured concurrently with flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were based on radial artery data. However, cardiovascular disease prediction studies traditionally measure brachial artery FMD. Therefore, studies should determine whether L-FMC occurs in the brachial artery. The hypothesis that reduced shear causes L-FMC has not been tested. Brachial and radial artery L-FMC and FMD were assessed in active nonpregnant ( n = 17), inactive nonpregnant ( n = 10), active pregnant ( n = 15, 34.1 ± 1.2 wk gestation), and inactive pregnant ( n = 8, 34.2 ± 2.2 wk gestation) women. Radial artery diameter decreased significantly during occlusion in all groups (nonpregnant, −4.4 ± 4.2%; pregnant, −6.4 ± 3.2%). Brachial artery diameter did not change in active and inactive nonpregnant, and inactive pregnant women; however, the small decrease in active pregnant women was significant. Occlusion decreased shear rate in both arteries, yet L-FMC only occurred in the radial artery. Radial artery L-FMC was not correlated with the reduction in shear rate. L-FMC occurs in the radial but not the brachial artery and is not related to changes in shear rate. Positive correlations between L-FMC (negative values) and FMD (positive values) suggest that radial artery FMD may be reduced among women who experience greater L-FMC. Studies should clarify the underlying stimulus and mechanisms regulating L-FMC, and test the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is manifested as enhanced brachial artery L-FMC, but attenuated radial artery L-FMC.

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The impact of baseline diameter on flow-mediated dilation differs in young and older humans

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00669.2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 295 (4) ◽

pp. H1594-H1598 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Dick H. J. Thijssen ◽

Marieke M. van Bemmel ◽

Lauren M. Bullens ◽

Ellen A. Dawson ◽

Nicola D. Hopkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Brachial Artery ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Cuff Inflation ◽

Brachial Artery Diameter ◽

Age Dependent ◽

Older Subjects ◽

The Impact ◽

Baseline Diameter

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) has become a commonly applied approach for the assessment of vascular function and health, but methods used to calculate FMD differ between studies. For example, the baseline diameter used as a benchmark is sometimes assessed before cuff inflation, whereas others use the diameter during cuff inflation. Therefore, we compared the brachial artery diameter before and during cuff inflation and calculated the resulting FMD in healthy children ( n = 45; 10 ± 1 yr), adults ( n = 31; 28 ± 6 yr), and older subjects ( n = 22; 58 ± 5 yr). Brachial artery FMD was examined after 5 min of distal ischemia. Diameter was determined from either 30 s before cuff inflation or from the last 30 s during cuff inflation. Edge detection and wall tracking of high resolution B-mode arterial ultrasound images was used to calculate conduit artery diameter. Brachial artery diameter during cuff inflation was significantly larger than before inflation in children ( P = 0.02) and adults ( P < 0.001) but not in older subjects ( P = 0.59). Accordingly, FMD values significantly differed in children (11.2 ± 5.1% vs. 9.4 ± 5.2%; P = 0.02) and adults (7.3 ± 3.2% vs. 4.6 ± 3.3%; P < 0.001) but not in older subjects (6.3 ± 3.4% vs. 6.0 ± 4.2%; P = 0.77). When the diameter before cuff inflation was used, an age-dependent decline was evident in FMD, whereas FMD calculated using the diameter during inflation was associated with higher FMD values in older than younger adults. In summary, the inflation of the cuff significantly increases brachial artery diameter, which results in a lower FMD response. This effect was found to be age dependent, which emphasizes the importance of using appropriate methodology to calculate the FMD.

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Physical activity during daily life and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in peripheral arterial disease

Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1177/1358863x08101018 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 193-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Laila Payvandi ◽

Alan Dyer ◽

David McPherson ◽

Philip Ades ◽

James Stein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Daily Life ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Peripheral Arterial ◽

Artery Flow

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Predictive value of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation on coronary artery abnormality in acute stage of Kawasaki disease

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87704-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yizhou Wen ◽

Xianmin Wang ◽

Yonghong Guo ◽

Mei Jin ◽

Jimei Xi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery ◽

Kawasaki Disease ◽

Brachial Artery ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Coronary Aneurysm ◽

Acute Stage ◽

Flow Mediated Dilation ◽

Strong Negative Correlation ◽

Coronary Artery Abnormality ◽

Artery Flow

AbstractCoronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) are a severe complication of Kawasaki disease (KD) that may lead to cardiovascular events. Given the evidence that brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) decreases in children after the onset of KD, we hypothesized that it could be an early marker of CAA development in the acute stage and investigated its relationship with variation in the coronary artery diameter. A total of 326 sex- and age-matched children were enrolled, including 120 with KD, 109 febrile children and 97 healthy controls. In this study, FMD was significantly decreased in the KD group compared with the febrile and healthy groups. FMD was lower in the CAA group than in the no coronary artery abnormality group. The comparison of FMD showed an obvious difference among the CAA subgroups. The FMD in the coronary aneurysm (CA) group showed a strong negative correlation with the pretreatment maximum coronary artery Z-score (preZmax). While preZmax was 2.5, the receiver operating characteristic curve indicated an optimal cutoff point of 3.44% for FMD. FMD ≤ 3.44% could be considered as a signal of coronary lesions in acute stage of KD.

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