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Scarfò G, Daniele S, Chelucci E, Rizza A, Fusi J, Freggia G, Costa B, Taliani S, Artini P, Martini C, Franzoni F. Regular exercise delays microvascular endothelial dysfunction by regulating antioxidant capacity and cellular metabolism. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17671. [PMID: 37848614 PMCID: PMC10582030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44928-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is the basis for several unfavorable conditions, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this sense, regular physical activity (regular PA) has been proven to delay cellular aging and prevent endothelial dysfunction related to CVDs. Despite numerous studies involving athletes, little is known about cellular and molecular mechanisms of regular PA among master athletes. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of regular PA on local microcirculatory functions in elderly athletes as compared to age-matched sedentary controls. Moreover, molecular/epigenetic mechanisms (nitric oxide, oxidative stress, PGC-1α, SIRT1 and miR29) were also assessed. The results of the present study showed that regular PA significantly increased local blood flow in post-ischemia and post-heating conditions, as well as NO plasma concentrations, denoting a better endothelial function/microcirculatory efficiency. Moreover, athletes presented a greater plasma antioxidant and increased transcriptional levels of the metabolism regulator PGC-1α. Finally, regular PA enhanced plasma level of SIRT1 and miR29, suggested as epigenetic regulators of redox balance and cellular metabolism. In addition, stimulated local blood flow was directly related to plasma antioxidant capacity, and SIRT1 and miR29 levels. Overall, our data confirm the beneficial effects of regular PA on the cardiovascular profile in elderly athletes and shed light on molecular signals involved in the positive adaptations to exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Scarfò
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Daniele
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Antonio Rizza
- Interventional Cardiology Division, Gaetano Pasquinucci Heart Hospital, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, 54100, Massa, Italy
| | - Jonathan Fusi
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Freggia
- Cardiology Unit, Gaetano Pasquinucci Heart Hospital, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, 54100, Massa, Italy
| | - Barbara Costa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Artini
- Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ferdinando Franzoni
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Crowe J, Knechtle B, Rojas-Valverde D. Editorial: Acute and long-term health issues of occupational exposure to heat and high physical loads. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1304229. [PMID: 37885798 PMCID: PMC10599243 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1304229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Crowe
- Central American Institute for Studies on Toxic Substances (IRET), Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Beat Knechtle
- Institute for Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Rojas-Valverde
- Centro de Investigación y Diagnóstico en Salud y Deporte (CIDISAD-NARS), Escuela Ciencias del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
- Sport Injury Clinic, Escuela Ciencias del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica
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Burtscher J, Strasser B, D'Antona G, Millet GP, Burtscher M. How much resistance exercise is beneficial for healthy aging and longevity? JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2023; 12:284-286. [PMID: 36356853 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Burtscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland; Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Strasser
- Medical Faculty, Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna A-1020, Austria
| | - Giuseppe D'Antona
- CRIAMS-Sport Medicine Centre Voghera, University of Pavia, Pavia I-27100, Italy; Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - Gregoire P Millet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland; Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Martin Burtscher
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck A-6020, Austria.
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Kelly CPMG. Is There Evidence for the Development of Sex-Specific Guidelines for Ultramarathon Coaches and Athletes? A Systematic Review. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2023; 9:6. [PMID: 36695958 PMCID: PMC9877268 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-022-00533-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence of sex differences in the physiology of endurance exercise, yet most of the advice and guidelines on training, racing, nutrition, and recovery for ultramarathons are based on research that has largely excluded female athletes. The objective was therefore to review the current knowledge of sex differences in ultramarathon runners and determine if sufficient evidence exists for providing separate guidelines for males and females. METHODS This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Three databases were searched for studies investigating differences in elite and recreational male and female ultramarathon runners. Studies were included if they compared males and females and looked at outcomes relating to the performance or health of ultramarathon runners. The quality of the included studies was determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS The search strategy identified 45 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were observational in design, with only three papers based on randomised controlled trials. The overall quality of the evidence was low. Sex differences in the predictors of ultramarathon performance; physiological responses to training, racing, and recovery; chronic and acute health issues; and pacing strategies were found. There were areas with contradictory findings, and very few studies examined specific interventions. CONCLUSION The results from this review suggest that the development of sex-specific guidelines for ultramarathon coaches and athletes could have a significant effect on the performance and health of female runners. At present, there is insufficient high-quality evidence on which to formulate these guidelines, and further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia P M G Kelly
- College of Medicine and Health, The University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK.
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Burtscher J, Strasser B, Burtscher M, Millet GP. The Impact of Training on the Loss of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Aging Masters Endurance Athletes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191711050. [PMID: 36078762 PMCID: PMC9517884 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191711050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Elite masters endurance athletes are considered models of optimal healthy aging due to the maintenance of high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) until old age. Whereas a drop in VO2max in masters athletes has been broadly investigated, the modifying impact of training still remains a matter of debate. Longitudinal observations in masters endurance athletes demonstrated VO2max declines between -5% and -46% per decade that were closely related to changes in training volume. Here, using regression analyses, we show that 54% and 39% of the variance in observed VO2max decline in male and female athletes, respectively is explained by changes in training volume. An almost linear VO2max decrease was observed in studies on young and older athletes, as well as non-athletes, starting a few days after training cessation, with a decline of as much as -20% after 12 weeks. Besides a decline in stroke volume and cardiac output, training cessation was accompanied by considerable reductions in citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase activity (reduction in mitochondrial content and oxidative capacity). This reduction could largely be rescued within similar time periods of training (re)uptake. It is evident that training reduction or cessation leads to a considerably accelerated VO2max drop, as compared to the gradual aging-related VO2max decline, which can rapidly nullify many of the benefits of preceding long-term training efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Burtscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Strasser
- Medical Faculty, Sigmund Freud Private University, A-1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Burtscher
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Gregoire P. Millet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Burtscher M, Hefti U, Ruedl G, Hefti JP. Editorial on the Research Topic the 2nd Edition of Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159510. [PMID: 35954866 PMCID: PMC9368657 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mountain sports are continuously gaining popularity, currently fueled by the post-pandemic period expanding travel opportunities and the desire to escape the increasingly hot environmental conditions of urban areas—ambient temperature decreases by about 6 [...]
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Burtscher
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
- Austrian Society for Alpine and High-Altitude Medicine, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Correspondence:
| | - Urs Hefti
- Swiss Sportclinic, 3014 Bern, Switzerland; (U.H.); (J.P.H.)
- Medical Commission, International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), 3014 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Ruedl
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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