"Regular exercise's positive impact on older people's cardiovascular profiles"

Researchers from Italy examined the impact of consistent physical activity (PA) on plasma antioxidant capacity and microcirculatory processes in older athletes compared to sedentary controls in a study that was published in Scientific Reports. The underlying molecular and epigenetic pathways were investigated.

The study discovered that frequent PA raised plasma antioxidant capacity and enhanced microcirculatory efficiency in senior athletes.

:Background:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of several physical and mental illnesses that are caused by the biological process of aging. The most important symptoms of vascular aging include arteriosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.

Senescence of endothelial cells brought on by a reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, redox imbalance, and oxidative stress are a few biological and molecular pathways linked to aging and aging-related endothelial dysfunction.

Evidence for the majority of these pathways being postponed by exercise is growing. However, it is yet unknown what molecular processes underlie the positive effects of routine PA on cardiovascular health in senior citizens and master athletes.

Thus, the objective of this study was to assess and compare the long-term effects of regular PA on microcirculatory functions and plasma antioxidant capacity in a group of elderly athletes and sedentary individuals while illuminating the associated molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the differences.

:Concerning the study:

An equal number of healthy sedentary controls (SED, age range 46-77 years) and 36 long-distance runners (ATL, age range 47-74 years) were included in the research. Age and body mass index between the ATL and SED groups did not significantly differ.

The chosen subjects exhibited no risk factors or CVDs. Additionally, anyone with cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, or alcohol use were disqualified from the study.

The effectiveness of the subjects' microcirculation and endothelial function were assessed using a laser Doppler analysis of their skin blood flow (SBF). To evaluate the microcirculation under conditions of hypoxia and hyperemia, the hand blood flow (HBF) and foot blood flow (FBF) were monitored at rest, after heating to 44°C, and after a 3-min brachial artery blockage.

Additionally, participants' venous blood samples were collected, and the plasma was separated. In the plasma, the concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) were measured.

The mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1 and microRNA (miR29) in the mononuclear cells were examined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Total oxyradical scavenging capacity (TOSC) test was utilized to research the plasma antioxidant capability. The statistical analysis included calculating the mean and standard deviation, using ANOVA and ANCOVA for the analysis of variance and covariance, linear regression, and the Student's t-test for the statistical analysis.

:Results and analysis:

The findings demonstrate that whereas skin microcirculation in the ATL and SED groups was comparable at rest, HBF and FBF substantially (p0.001) increased in the ATL group in response to warmth and ischemia.

On the other hand, HBF increased only in response to ischemia in the SED group, while FBF increased to a lesser level. The ATL group had considerably greater plasma concentrations of NO, which suggested that the athletes' endothelial function and microcirculatory efficiency had increased while NO bioavailability had been retained.

The ATL group was shown to have considerably greater plasma levels of SIRT1, miR29, and mRNA PGC-1 than the SED group (p 0.001), as well as increased plasma antioxidant capability. These results are noteworthy since PGC-1 is a metabolic marker associated with oxidative stress and SIRT1 and miR29 are epigenetic regulators of cellular metabolism and redox pathways.

Furthermore, a link between clinical variables such NO concentration, FBF, and HBF was noted. SIRT1 levels connect with TOSC, miR29, and PGC-1 mRNA levels in the biochemical study. Additionally, it was discovered that there was a correlation between the clinical and biochemical characteristics.

Overall, the evidence points to the possibility that frequent PA can improve plasma antioxidant capacity and control redox signaling in older athletes, hence preventing the endothelial dysfunction linked to aging. The study is constrained, nevertheless, by the small sample size and the young average age of the participants.

:Conclusion:

Together, our results demonstrate that regular exercise may delay the senescence of endothelial cells by triggering intracellular and epigenetic mechanisms that influence nitric oxide bioavailability and redox homeostasis.

The study concludes by highlighting the beneficial modifications of the underlying pathways as well as the protective benefits of consistent exercise on the cardiovascular system.

These results need to be confirmed by other study in order to advance our knowledge of the impact of regular exercise and aging on cardiovascular parameters in older populations.