Augmentation Index Is Inversely Associated with Skeletal Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Anaerobic Power in Young Male Adults: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown that there is a negative correlation between arterial stiffness and variables such as skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power in older individuals. However, little research has been undertaken on relationships in healthy young adults. This study presents a preliminary research that investigates the association between arterial stiffness and muscular factors in healthy male college students. Twenty-three healthy young males (23.9 ± 0.5 years) participated in the study. The participants visited the laboratory, and variables including body composition, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood parameters, grip strength, and anaerobic power were measured. Measurements of augmentation index (AIx) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were performed to determine arterial stiffness. There were significant positive correlations among skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and anaerobic power in healthy young adult males. AIx was negatively associated with a skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.785, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.500, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.469, p < 0.05), respectively. Likewise, AIx@75 corrected with a heart rate of 75 was negatively associated with skeletal muscle mass (r = −0.738, p < 0.01), muscular strength (r = −0.461, p < 0.05), and anaerobic power (r = −0.420, p < 0.05) respectively. However, the baPWV showed no correlation with all muscular factors. Our findings suggest that maintaining high levels of skeletal muscle mass, muscular strength, and anaerobic power from relatively young age may lower AIx.

Handgrip Strength Is Associated with Specific Aspects of Vascular Function in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome

“…Amongst the other results that emerged in the interaction analysis, there was a direct relationship between HGS/kg and AIx@75% in people aged 25 to 40 years, an association that was stronger in women. This finding is contrary to the prior literature, showing that regardless of age, higher strength is related to a better vascular status [ 21 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Associations between grip strength and PWV are reported primarily in subjects older than 50 years, a potential explanation for the lack of association in the present study [ 14 , 18 , 48 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ].…”

“…This finding is contrary to the prior literature, showing that regardless of age, higher strength is related to a better vascular status [ 21 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Associations between grip strength and PWV are reported primarily in subjects older than 50 years, a potential explanation for the lack of association in the present study [ 14 , 18 , 48 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ]. In addition, as this marker is more representative of lower-body arterial stiffness, it may be more associated with measures of lower body strength than with HGS, which correlates more strongly with upper extremity strength [ 71 , 72 ].…”

The amount of skeletal muscle mass is associated with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients

“…Recent studies have stated that physical fitness‐related factors, such as cardiorespiratory endurance and muscle strength, are associated with arterial stiffness [15]. Improving cardiorespiratory endurance through regular aerobic exercise reduces arterial stiffness and reduces risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, thus minimizing cardiovascular disease‐related mortality [16]. All those studies imply that the amount of muscle mass is important to maintain vascular elasticity.…”

Special Issue “New Trends in Sport and Exercise Medicine”

“…In fact, the increase in cardiorespiratory endurance reduces body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, which represent significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In young adults, this correlation is still unclear; thus, Lee et al [14] investigated the relationship between muscle strength parameters and arterial stiffness in young males. They showed an inverse significant correlation with one of the parameters used to measure arterial stiffness, such as the Augmentation index, suggesting that strength training in young adults contributes to changes in arterial stiffness.…”

“…Sixteen papers have been published, which are briefly described below. They range from mobile applications in physiotherapy to changes in bioactive lipids in half-marathoners [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”