Endothelial function in highly endurance-trained and sedentary young men: effects of acute aerobic exercise

Adaptation of endothelium to exercise training: Insights from experimental studies

“…For example, exercise has been shown to improve endothelial function in humans and rats with metabolic syndrome (80,81) and chronic heart failure (82,83). In contrast, studies of healthy subjects reveal conflicting data, suggesting improved (87), unaltered (85) or even depressed (86) endothelial function. Furthermore, it seems that endothelial function is well preserved in young, healthy women and men (89) and that a high aerobic training status does not increase the dilating capacity.…”

“…A large resting brachial artery is known to be an independent predictor of coronary artery disease (90). However, in athletes with a high cardiac output, shear stress and endothelial function is preserved despite the larger arterial diameter (87). This may be an analogue to physiological hypertrophy (athlete's heart) with improved function versus the pathological hypertrophy (i.e.…”

“…Increased arterial diameter on the basis of an exaggerated production of NO in athletes (87) may suggest that a structural enlargement of the artery has taken place. The mechanisms responsible for mediating structural enlargements of the vascular system are not fully understood, but evidence points to shear stress-mediated NO release playing an important part (91).…”