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George SA, Trampel KA, Brunner K, Efimov IR. Moderate Endurance Exercise Increases Arrhythmia Susceptibility and Modulates Cardiac Structure and Function in a Sexually Dimorphic Manner. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e033317. [PMID: 38686869 PMCID: PMC11179941 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.033317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although moderate endurance exercise has been reported to improve cardiovascular health, its effects on cardiac structure and function are not fully characterized, especially with respect to sexual dimorphism. We aimed to assess the effects of moderate endurance exercise on cardiac physiology in male versus female mice. METHODS AND RESULTS C57BL/6J mice of both sexes were run on a treadmill for 6 weeks. ECG and echocardiography were performed every 2 weeks. After 6 weeks of exercise, mice were euthanized, and triple parametric optical mapping was performed on Langendorff perfused hearts to assess cardiac electrophysiology. Arrhythmia inducibility was tested by programmed electrical stimulation. Left ventricular tissue was fixed, and RNA sequencing was performed to determine exercise-induced transcriptional changes. Exercise-induced left ventricular dilatation was observed in female mice alone, as evidenced by increased left ventricular diameter and reduced left ventricular wall thickness. Increased cardiac output was also observed in female exercised mice but not males. Optical mapping revealed further sexual dimorphism in exercise-induced modulation of cardiac electrophysiology. In female mice, exercise prolonged action potential duration and reduced voltage-calcium influx delay. In male mice, exercise reduced the calcium decay constant, suggesting faster calcium reuptake. Exercise increased arrhythmia inducibility in both male and female mice; however, arrhythmia duration was increased only in females. Lastly, exercise-induced transcriptional changes were sex dependent: females and males exhibited the most significant changes in contractile versus metabolism-related genes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that moderate endurance exercise can significantly alter multiple aspects of cardiac physiology in a sex-dependent manner. Although some of these effects are beneficial, like improved cardiac mechanical function, others are potentially proarrhythmic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering George Washington University Washington DC
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Northwestern University Chicago IL
| | - Katy Anne Trampel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering George Washington University Washington DC
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Northwestern University Chicago IL
| | - Kelsey Brunner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering George Washington University Washington DC
| | - Igor R Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering George Washington University Washington DC
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Northwestern University Chicago IL
- Department of Medicine Northwestern University Chicago IL
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Li YS, Ao YW, Zhu DY, Zhang L, Yang RJ, Zhao YL, Zha YF. Reduced myocardial strain of interventricular septum among male amateur marathon runners: a cardiac magnetic resonance study. J Sci Med Sport 2023; 26:506-513. [PMID: 37730468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze the long-term effect of multiple marathons on cardiac structure and function in amateur marathon runners compared with healthy controls. DESIGN Cross-sectional study using male amateur marathon runners (n = 32) and age-matched cohort of male healthy controls (n = 12). METHODS A total of 32 male amateur marathon runners (age 44 ± 7 years) and 12 male healthy controls (age 42 ± 8 years) underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The relevant parameters of cardiac structure and function were studied employing feature-tracking strain analysis. RESULTS Amateur marathon runners showed lower heart rates, body mass index and body surface area. The left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV end-diastolic volume index and right ventricular end-systolic volume index were significantly higher in amateur marathon runners compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, walls of interventricular septum (IVS) in amateur marathon runners were thicker than healthy controls. There was no significant difference between two groups in the global myocardial strain (MS) in LV. However, the segmental radial and circumferential strains of the LV were lower in amateur marathon runners compared to healthy controls, specifically in the 8th and 9th segments. Finally, we also found as the total running intensity increased, so did global longitudinal strain. CONCLUSIONS We reported higher wall thickness and lower regional radial and circumferential strain in the IVS region in amateur marathon runners, suggesting that prolonged and high-intensity exercise may cause cardiac remodeling. Further studies are needed to investigate whether this is an adaptive or maladaptive change in amateur marathon runners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shuang Li
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Ya-Wen Ao
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Dong-Yong Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Ren-Jie Yang
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China
| | - Yi-Lin Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China.
| | - Yun-Fei Zha
- Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Zhang Road, Wuchang District No. 99 Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China.
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Coates AM, Millar PJ, Burr JF. Investigating the roles of exercise intensity and biological sex on postexercise alterations in cardiac function. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2023; 134:455-466. [PMID: 36656982 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00570.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The term exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) has typically been used to describe a transient reduction in cardiac function following prolonged-strenuous exercise. Recent evidence demonstrates that EICF can occur following only 45 min of high-intensity exercise when assessed using exercising stress echocardiography. This investigation sought to examine whether sprint intervals (SIT; 6 × 30 s Wingate tests), or 90-min moderate-cycling with sprint intervals (MIX; 90 min with 1 × 30 s Wingate test every 15 min) would cause greater EICF than 90 min (CON) or 3 h (LONG) moderate-cycling assessed using stress echocardiography, with a secondary aim to interrogate sex differences in EICF. Seventeen participants (M: 9, F: 8) underwent three cycling sessions with stress-echocardiography performed before-and-after each condition at a target heart rate (HR) of 100 beats·min-1, with the CON testing occurring at the mid-point of the 3 h LONG condition. For all conditions, measures of left ventricular (LV) systolic [stroke volume, ejection fraction (EF), peak longitudinal strain, isovolumetric contraction time, S') and diastolic (E/A, E', isovolumetric relaxation time, longitudinal strain rate) function were reduced after exercise (all P < 0.05). In the right ventricle (RV), systolic function was reduced (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, S', peak longitudinal strain and strain rate) following all conditions, and fractional area change was reduced to the greatest degree following SIT (condition × time, P = 0.01). Females demonstrated lesser impairments in LV EF, and elastance (ESP/ESV) compared with males (P < 0.05). Markers of EICF occurred similarly following all cycling loads, suggesting the functional changes may be due to altered loading conditions and reduced stress-echocardiography workload. However, males experienced greater cardiac alterations in some measures, likely due to greater changes in postexercise loading conditions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This investigation sought to determine the role of exercise intensity on the magnitude of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue using stress echocardiography to maintain loading conditions, with a secondary purpose of assessing sex differences. Unexpectedly, it was found that all cycling loads elicited the same magnitude of functional alteration, which likely represents a common response to exercise and stress echocardiography, rather than intrinsic cardiac impairment. Males demonstrated greater alterations than females, likely due to sex differences in postexercise hemodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Coates
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Millar
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamie F Burr
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Valenzuela PL, Baggish A, Castillo-García A, Santos-Lozano A, Boraita A, Lucia A. Strenuous Endurance Exercise and the Heart: Physiological versus Pathological Adaptations. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:4067-4085. [PMID: 35950659 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Although the benefits of regular physical activity on cardiovascular health are well established, the effects of strenuous endurance exercise (SEE) have been a matter of debate since ancient times. In this article, we aim to provide a balanced overview of what is known about SEE and the heart-from epidemiological evidence to recent cardiac imaging findings. Lifelong SEE is overall cardioprotective, with endurance master athletes showing in fact a youthful heart. Yet, some lines of research remain open, such as the need to elucidate the time-course and potential relevance of transient declines in heart function (or increases in biomarkers of cardiac injury) with SEE. The underlying mechanisms and clinical relevance of SEE-associated atrial fibrillation, myocardial fibrosis, or high coronary artery calcium scores also remain to be elucidated. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:1-19, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro L Valenzuela
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aaron Baggish
- Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adrián Castillo-García
- Fissac - Physiology, Health and Physical Activity, Madrid, Spain.,Biology Systems Department, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Santos-Lozano
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain.,i+HeALTH, European University Miguel de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Araceli Boraita
- Department of Cardiology, Sports Medicine Center, Spanish Agency for Health Protection in Sports, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lucia
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group ('PaHerg'), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre ('imas12'), Madrid, Spain.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Wolff S, Picco JM, Díaz-González L, Valenzuela PL, Gonzalez-Dávila E, Santos-Lozano A, Matile P, Wolff D, Boraita A, Lucia A. Exercise-Induced Cardiac Fatigue in Recreational Ultramarathon Runners at Moderate Altitude: Insights From Myocardial Deformation Analysis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:744393. [PMID: 35141287 PMCID: PMC8818846 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.744393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Controversy exists on the actual occurrence of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) with ultraendurance exercise, as well as on whether factors such as age or training status might predispose to this condition. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence of EICF among recreational ultramarathon runners, as well as to determine potential predictive factors. Methods Nineteen male recreational runners (42 ± 12yrs) participated in a 55-km trial race at moderate altitude (1,800–2,500 m). Participants were evaluated before and after the race using Doppler echocardiography and myocardial deformation analysis. EICF was determined as a reduction >5% of either left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) or right ventricular free wall strain (RVFWS). Demographical (age, body mass index), training (training experience, volume and intensity), competition (finishing time, relative intensity) and biochemical variables (blood lactate, creatine kinase [CK] and CK-MB) were assessed as predictors of EICF. Results A significant reduction in LVGLS (20.1 ± 2.1% at baseline vs. 18.8 ± 2.4% at post-race, p = 0.026), but not in RVFWS (27.4 ± 7.0 vs. 24.6 ± 5.3%, p = 0.187), was observed after the race. EICF was present in 47 and 71% of the participants attending to the decrease in LVGLS and RVFWS, respectively. No associations were found between any of the analyzed variables and EICF except for age, which was associated with the magnitude of decrement of RVFWS (r = 0.58, p = 0.030). Conclusions Ultramarathon running at moderate altitude seems to induce EICF in a considerable proportion of recreational athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Wolff
- Wolff Cardiology and Sport Medicine Institute, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - José M. Picco
- Wolff Cardiology and Sport Medicine Institute, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Leonel Díaz-González
- Cardiology Department, CEMTRO Clinic, Madrid, Spain
- Cardiology Department, La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro L. Valenzuela
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (“PaHerg”), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (“Imas12”), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Santos-Lozano
- I+HeALTH, European University Miguel de Cervantes, Valladolid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (“PaHerg”), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (“Imas12”), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - David Wolff
- Wolff Cardiology and Sport Medicine Institute, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Araceli Boraita
- Department of Cardiology, Sports Medicine Center, Spanish Sports Health Protection Agency, Consejo Superior de Deportes, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Lucia
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Health Research Group (“PaHerg”), Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (“Imas12”), Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Alejandro Lucia
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A new perspective on cardiovascular drift during prolonged exercise. Life Sci 2021; 287:120109. [PMID: 34717912 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged exercise induces cardiovascular drift, which is characterized by decreasing mean arterial pressure (MAP), stroke volume and heart rate increase. Cardiovascular drift has been debated for a long time. Although the exact mechanisms underlying cardiovascular drift are still unknown, two theories have been proposed. The first is that increased skin blood flow displaces blood volume from central circulation to the periphery, which reduces stroke volume. According to this theory, the rise in heart rate is presumably responding to the drop in stroke volume and MAP. The alternative theory is that an increase in heart rate is due to an increase in sympathetic nervous activity causing reducing time at diastole, and therefore stroke volume. It may be difficult to determine a single robust factor accounting for cardiovascular drift, due to the broad range of circumstances. The primary focus of this review is to elucidate our understanding of cardiovascular drift during prolonged exercise through nitric oxide and force-frequency relationship. We highlight for the very first time that cardiovascular drift (in some conditions and within a specific time period) may be considered as a protective strategy against potential damage that could be induced by the intense and prolonged contraction of the myocardium.
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Tokodi M, Oláh A, Fábián A, Lakatos BK, Hizoh I, Ruppert M, Sayour AA, Barta BA, Kiss O, Sydó N, Csulak E, Ladányi Z, Merkely B, Kovács A, Radovits T. Novel insights into the athlete's heart: is myocardial work the new champion of systolic function? Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2021; 23:188-197. [PMID: 34432004 PMCID: PMC8788018 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeab162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims We sought to investigate the correlation between speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived myocardial work (MW) and invasively measured contractility in a rat model of athlete's heart. We also assessed MW in elite athletes and explored its association with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)-derived aerobic capacity. Methods and results Sixteen rats underwent a 12-week swim training program and were compared to controls (n = 16). STE was performed to assess global longitudinal strain (GLS), which was followed by invasive pressure-volume analysis to measure contractility [slope of end-systolic pressure–volume relationship (ESPVR)]. Global MW index (GMWI) was calculated from GLS curves and left ventricular (LV) pressure recordings. In the human investigations, 20 elite swimmers and 20 healthy sedentary controls were enrolled. GMWI was calculated through the simultaneous evaluation of GLS and non-invasively approximated LV pressure curves at rest. All subjects underwent CPET to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2/kg). Exercised rats exhibited higher values of GLS, GMWI, and ESPVR than controls (−20.9 ± 1.7 vs. −17.6 ± 1.9%, 2745 ± 280 vs. 2119 ± 272 mmHg·%, 3.72 ± 0.72 vs. 2.61 ± 0.40 mmHg/μL, all PExercise < 0.001). GMWI correlated robustly with ESPVR (r = 0.764, P < 0.001). In humans, regular exercise training was associated with decreased GLS (−17.6 ± 1.5 vs. −18.8 ± 0.9%, PExercise = 0.002) but increased values of GMWI at rest (1899 ± 136 vs. 1755 ± 234 mmHg·%, PExercise = 0.025). GMWI exhibited a positive correlation with VO2/kg (r = 0.527, P < 0.001). Conclusions GMWI precisely reflected LV contractility in a rat model of exercise-induced LV hypertrophy and captured the supernormal systolic performance in human athletes even at rest. Our findings endorse the utilization of MW analysis in the evaluation of the athlete’s heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Tokodi
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Attila Oláh
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Alexandra Fábián
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Bálint Károly Lakatos
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - István Hizoh
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Mihály Ruppert
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Alex Ali Sayour
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Bálint András Barta
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Nóra Sydó
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Emese Csulak
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Ladányi
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Béla Merkely
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Attila Kovács
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
| | - Tamás Radovits
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, 68 Városmajor Street, Budapest 1122, Hungary
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Marathon-Induced Cardiac Fatigue: A Review over the Last Decade for the Preservation of the Athletes' Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168676. [PMID: 34444424 PMCID: PMC8391217 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM To provide a state-of-the-art review of the last 10 years focusing on cardiac fatigue following a marathon. METHODS The PubMed, Bookshelf and Medline databases were queried during a time span of 10 years to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-four studies focusing only on the impact of marathons on the cardiac function and factors involved in cardiac fatigue were included in this review. RESULTS Sixteen studies focused on the impact of marathons on several biomarkers (e.g., C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin T). Seven studies focused on the left (LV) or right (RV) ventricular function following a marathon and employed cardiac magnetic resonance, echocardiography, myocardial speckle tracking and heart rate variability to analyze global and regional LV or RV mechanics and the impact of the autonomic nervous system on cardiac function. One study focused on serum profiling and its association with cardiac changes after a marathon. CONCLUSIONS This review reported a negligible impact of marathons on LV and RV systolic and contractile function but a negative impact on LV diastolic function in recreational runners. These impairments are often associated with acute damage to the myocardium. Thus, the advice of the present review to athletes is to adapt their training and have a regular medical monitoring to continue to run marathons while preserving their cardiac health.
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Coates AM, Petrick HL, Millar PJ, Burr JF. Exercise alters cardiac function independent of acute systemic inflammation in healthy men. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 320:H1762-H1773. [PMID: 33710926 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00809.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Acute elevations in inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to increase aortic and left ventricular stiffness and reduce endothelial function in healthy subjects. As vascular and cardiac functions are often transiently reduced following prolonged exercise, it is possible that cytokines released during exercise may contribute to these alterations. The a priori aims of this study were to determine whether vaccine-induced increases in inflammatory cytokines would reduce vascular and left ventricular function, whether vascular alterations would drive cardiac impairments, and whether this would be potentiated by moderate exercise. In a randomized crossover fashion, 16 male participants were tested under control (CON) and inflammatory (INF) conditions, wherein INF testing occurred 8 h following administration of an influenza vaccine. On both days, participants underwent measures of echocardiography performed during light cycling (stress-echocardiography), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), and superficial femoral flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after cycling for 90 min at ∼85% of their first ventilatory threshold. IL-6 increased significantly (Δ1.9 ± 1.3 pg/mL, P < 0.001), whereas TNFα was nonsignificantly augmented (Δ0.05 ± 0.11 pg/mL, P = 0.09), 8 h following vaccination. Vascular function was unaltered following cycling or inflammation (all P > 0.05). The use of echocardiography during light cycling revealed cardiac alterations traditionally expected to occur only with greater exercise loads, with reduced systolic (e.g., longitudinal strain CON: Δ3.3 ± 4.4%, INF: Δ1.7 ± 2.7%, P = 0.002) and diastolic function (e.g., E/A ratio CON: Δ-0.32 ± 0.34 a.u., INF:Δ-0.25 ± 0.27 a.u., P = 0.002) following cycling, independent of inflammation. The vaccine reduced stroke volume (SV) (main effect of condition P = 0.009) before-and-after cycling. These findings indicate that reduced cardiac function following exercise occurs largely independent of additional inflammatory load.NEW & NOTEWORHTHY This experimental investigation sought to determine the role of inflammation on the occurrence of cardiovascular alterations following exercise. Despite successfully stimulating systemic inflammation via vaccination, vascular and cardiac functions were largely unaltered. Prolonged exercise itself reduced cardiac function assessed via echocardiography performed during light exercise stress. This demonstrates a potential advantage to using stress-echocardiography for measuring exercise-induced cardiac fatigue, as typical resting measures following similar exercise exposures commonly suggest no effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Coates
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather L Petrick
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Mitochondrial Metabolism Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Millar
- Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamie F Burr
- The Human Performance and Health Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Physiological Determinants of Ultramarathon Trail-Running Performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2021; 16:1454-1461. [PMID: 33691287 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The physiological determinants of ultramarathon success have rarely been assessed and likely differ in their contributions to performance as race distance increases. PURPOSE To examine predictors of performance in athletes who completed either a 50-, 80-, or 160-km trail race over a 20-km loop course on the same day. METHODS Measures of running history, aerobic fitness, running economy, body mass loss, hematocrit alterations, age, and cardiovascular health were examined in relation to race-day performance. Performance was defined as the percentage difference from the winning time at a given race distance, with 0% representing the fastest possible time. RESULTS In the 50-km race, training volumes, cardiovascular health, aerobic fitness, and a greater loss of body mass during the race were all related to better performance (all P < .05). Using multiple linear regression, peak velocity achieved in the maximal oxygen uptake test (β = -11.7, P = .002) and baseline blood pressure (β = 3.1, P = .007) were the best performance predictors for the men's 50-km race (r = .98, r2 = .96, P < .001), while peak velocity achieved in the maximal oxygen uptake test (β = -13.6, P = .001) and loss of body mass (β = 12.8, P = .03) were the best predictors for women (r = .94, r2 = .87, P = .001). In the 80-km race, only peak velocity achieved in the maximal oxygen uptake test predicted performance (β = -20.3, r = .88, r2 = .78, P < .001). In the 160-km race, there were no significant performance determinants. CONCLUSIONS While classic determinants of running performance, including cardiovascular health and running fitness, predict 50-km trail-running success, performance in longer-distance races appears to be less influenced by such physiological parameters.
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