Aerobic exercise attenuates dysautonomia, cardiac diastolic dysfunctions, and hemodynamic overload in female mice with atherosclerosis.

Cardiovascular risk increases during the aging process in women with atherosclerosis and exercise training is a strategy for management of cardiac risks in at-risk populations. Therefore, the aims of this study were to evaluate: (1) the influence of the aging process on cardiac function, hemodynamics, cardiovascular autonomic modulation, and baroreflex sensitivity in females with atherosclerosis at the onset of reproductive senescence; and (2) the impact of exercise training on age-related dysfunctions in this model. Eighteen Apolipoprotein-E knockout female mice were divided equally into young (Y), middle-aged (MA), and trained middle-aged (MAT). Echocardiographic exams were performed to verify cardiac morphology and function. Cannulation for direct recording of blood pressure and heart rate, and analysis of cardiovascular autonomic modulation, baroreflex sensitivity were performed. The MA had lower cardiac diastolic function (E'/A' ratio), and higher aortic thickness, heart rate and mean arterial pressure, lower heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity compared with Y. There were no differences between Y and MAT in these parameters. Positive correlation coefficients were found between aortic wall thickness with hemodynamics data. The aging process causes a series of deleterious effects such as hemodynamic overload and dysautonomia in female with atherosclerosis. Exercise training was effective in mitigating aged-related dysfunctions.

Combined Exercise Training Promotes More Benefits on Cardiovascular Autonomic Modulation in Ovariectomized Rats Than Isolated Aerobic or Resistance Training.

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk increase after ovarian deprivation has been extensively demonstrated by our research group through cardiovascular autonomic analysis. Interventions involving different types of exercises, such as resistance exercises or combined exercises (aerobic and resistance) have been widely recommended to prevent or minimize neuromuscular decline in postmenopausal women, which is aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle. Experimentally, the cardiovascular effects of resistance or combined training, as well as comparison between aerobic, resistance, and combined training, in ovariectomized animals are scarce. Purpose: In this study, we hypothesized that the combination of aerobic and resistance training may be more effective in preventing muscle mass loss, as well as improving cardiovascular autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity, than aerobic or resistance training individually in ovariectomized rats. Animals and Methods: Female rats were divided into 5 groups: sedentary (C); ovariectomized (Ovx); trained ovariectomized submitted to aerobic training (OvxAT); resistance training (OvxRT); combined training (OvxCT). Exercise training lasted 8 weeks, with the combined group alternating between aerobic training and resistance training every other day. At the end of the study, glycemia and insulin tolerance were evaluated. Arterial pressure (AP) was directly recorded. Baroreflex sensitivity was assessed by heart rate response to changes in arterial pressure. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was evaluated by spectral analysis. Results: Combined training was the only training regime that increased baroreflex sensitivity for tachycardic response and reduced all systolic blood pressure variability parameters. Furthermore, all animals submitted to exercise training on a treadmill (OvxAT and OvxCT) presented lower systolic, diastolic, and mean pressure, as well as improvements in the autonomic modulation for the heart. Conclusion: Combined training showed to be more effective than isolated aerobic and resistance training, mixing the isolated benefits of each modality. It was the only modality able to increase baroreflex sensitivity to tachycardic responses, reduce arterial pressure and all parameters of vascular sympathetic modulation.

Effects of Exercise Intensity on Cardiometabolic Parameters of Ovariectomized Obese Mice.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of continuous-moderate vs. high-intensity interval aerobic training on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in ovariectomized high-fat-fed mice. C57BL/6 female ovariectomized were divided into four groups (n=8): low-fat-fed sedentary (SLF); high-fat-fed sedentary (SHF); high-fat-fed moderate-intensity continuous trained (MICT-HF); and high-fat-fed high-intensity interval aerobic trained (HIIT-HF). The high-fat diet lasted 10 weeks. Ovariectomy was performed in the fourth week. The exercise training was carried out in the last four weeks of protocol. Fasting glycemia, oral glucose tolerance, arterial pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, and cardiovascular autonomic modulation were evaluated. Moderate-intensity continuous training prevented the increase in arterial pressure and promoted a reduction in HR at rest, associated with an improvement in the sympathovagal balance in MICT-HF vs. SHF. The high-intensity interval training reduced blood glucose and glucose intolerance in HIIT-HF vs. SHF and MICT-HF. In addition, it improved sympathovagal balance in HIIT-HF vs. SHF. Moderate-intensity continuous training was more effective in promoting cardiovascular benefits, while high-intensity interval training was more effective in promoting metabolic benefits.

Food readjustment plus exercise training improves cardiovascular autonomic control and baroreflex sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed ovariectomized mice.

Despite consensus on the benefits of food readjustment and/or moderate-intensity continuous exercise in the treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors, there is little evidence of the association between these two cardiovascular risk management strategies after menopause. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of food readjustment and/or exercise training on metabolic, hemodynamic, autonomic, and inflammatory parameters in a model of loss of ovarian function with diet-induced obesity. Forty C57BL/6J ovariectomized mice were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet-fed - 60% lipids throughout the protocol (HF), food readjustment - 60% lipids for 5 weeks, readjusted to 10% for the next 5 weeks (FR), high-fat diet-fed undergoing moderate-intensity exercise training (HFT), and food readjustment associated with moderate-intensity exercise training (FRT). Blood glucose evaluations and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Blood pressure was assessed by direct intra-arterial measurement. Baroreflex sensitivity was tested using heart rate phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside induced blood pressure changes. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was evaluated in time and frequency domains. Inflammatory profile was evaluated by IL-6, IL-10 cytokines, and TNF-alpha measurements. Only the exercise training associated with food readjustment strategy induced improved functional capacity, body composition, metabolic parameters, inflammatory profile, and resting bradycardia, while positively changing cardiovascular autonomic modulation and increasing baroreflex sensitivity. Our findings demonstrate that the association of these strategies seems to be effective in the management of cardiometabolic risk in a model of loss of ovarian function with diet-induced obesity.

Cardiac sympathetic modulation increase after weight loss in combat sports athletes / Aumento da modulação cardíaca simpática depois de perda ponderal em atletas de combate / Aumento de la modulación cardíaca simpáticadespués de la pérdida ponderal en atletas de combate

INTRODUCTION: Although the rapid weight loss process is undertaken by combat sports athletes very often, the impact of this practice on cardiovascular health is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effects of the rapid weight loss process undertaken by combat sports athletes on hemodynamic parameters, cardiovascular autonomic modulation and mood state. METHODS: Eight male fighters (21.62±1.49 years, 71.25±3.54 kg, 1.74±0.03 cm) were assessed in the city of São Paulo. The subjects had 5.37±0.77 years of practice and were training 5.75±0.45 days per week, for 3.05±0.69 hours per day. The athletes were assessed on 2 occasions: 14 days before and 1 day before official weigh-in. Weight, height and bioimpedance were used for body composition analysis. Mood state was assessed using the Brums Mood Scale. Blood pressure was measured at rest with a digital meter. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was obtained through an analysis of heart rate variability recorded for 25 minutes at rest. The Student's t-test for dependent samples was used for comparison between time points. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: No differences in body composition were observed between the time points evaluated. After the weight loss strategy, increases in mood state parameters related to anger, vigor and fatigue categories were observed. Blood pressure did not change between the time points evaluated. However, an increase in heart rate associated with greater sympathetic modulation was observed after the weight loss strategy. There were no differences in autonomic modulation parameters representing parasympathetic activity. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided evidence of a higher cardiovascular risk in athletes as a result of this rapid weight loss practice, which is very concerning since combat sports athletes repeat this process several times during their lives. Level of Evidence IV; Study type: Case series

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar de o processo de perda ponderal rápida ser realizado por atletas de esporte de combate com muita frequência, os impactos dessa prática sobre a saúde cardiovascular não estão totalmente esclarecidos. OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos do processo de perda ponderal rápida realizado pelos atletas de esportes de combate sobre parâmetros hemodinâmicos, modulação autonômica cardiovasculares estado de humor. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados oito lutadores do sexo masculino (21,62 ± 1,49 anos, 71,25 ± 3,54 kg, 1,74±0,03 cm) na cidade de São Paulo. Os sujeitos tinham 5,37 ± 0,77 anos de prática, treinavam 5,75 ± 0,45 dias por semana, durante 3,05 ± 0,69 horas por dia. Os atletas foram avaliados em duas oportunidades: 14 dias e 1 dia antes da pesagem. Foram realizadas avaliações de massa corporal, altura e bioimpedância para análise da composição corporal. O estado de humor foi avaliado pela da escala de humor de Brums. A pressão arterial foi aferida em repouso com medidor digital. A modulação autonômica cardiovascular foi obtida pela análise de variabilidade da frequência cardíaca gravada durante 25 minutos em repouso. Para a comparação entre os momentos, foi utilizado teste t de Student para amostras dependentes. Os valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados significativos. RESULTADOS: Não foram observadas diferenças na composição corporal entre os momentos avaliados. Após a estratégia de perda ponderal, foram observados aumentos dos parâmetros de humor relacionados às categorias raiva, vigor e fadiga. A pressão arterial não se alterou entre os momentos avaliados. Entretanto, verificou-se aumento da frequência cardíaca associado à maior modulação simpática após a estratégia de perda ponderal. Os parâmetros de modulação autonômica representativos de atividade parassimpática não apresentaram diferenças. CONCLUSÕES: Houve maior risco cardiovascular nos atletas em decorrência dessa prática de perda ponderal rápida, o que é muito preocupante, tendo em vista que os atletas de esportes de combate repetem esse processo várias vezes durante a vida. Nível de Evidência IV; Tipo de estudo: Série de casos.

INTRODUCCIÓN: A pesar de que el proceso de pérdida ponderal rápida sea realizado por atletas de deporte de combate con mucha frecuencia, los impactos de esta práctica sobre la salud cardiovascular no están totalmente aclarados. OBJETIVO: Verificar los efectos del proceso de pérdida ponderal rápida realizado por los atletas de deportes de combate sobre parámetros hemodinámicos, modulación autonómica cardiovascular y el estado de humor. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron 8 luchadores del sexo masculino (21,62±1,49 años, 71,25±3,54 kg, 1,74±0,03 cm) en la ciudad de São Paulo. Los sujetos tenían 5,37±0,77 años de práctica, entrenaban 5,75±0,45 días a la semana, durante 3,05±0,69 horas al día. Los atletas fueron evaluados en dos oportunidades: 14 días y 1 día antes del pesaje. Se realizaron evaluaciones de masa corporal, altura y bioimpedancia para análisis de la composición corporal. El estado de humor fue evaluado a través de la escala de humor de Brums. La presión arterial se midió en reposo con medidor digital. La modulación autonómica cardiovascular fue obtenida a través del análisis de variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca grabada durante 25 minutos en reposo. Para la comparación entre los momentos, se utilizó la prueba t de Student para muestras dependientes. Los valores de p <0,05 se consideraron significativos. RESULTADOS: No se observaron diferencias en la composición corporal entre los momentos evaluados. Después de la estrategia de pérdida ponderal, se observaron aumentos en los parámetros de humor relacionados con las categorías rabia, vigor y fatiga. La presión arterial no se alteró entre los momentos evaluados. Sin embargo, se observó un aumento en la frecuencia cardíaca asociado a la mayor modulación simpática después de la estrategia de pérdida ponderal. Los parámetros de modulación autonómica representativos de actividad parasimpática no presentaron diferencias. CONCLUSIONES: Hubo mayor riesgo cardiovascular en los atletas como consecuencia de esta práctica de pérdida ponderal rápida, lo que es muy preocupante, teniendo en cuenta que los atletas de deportes de combate repiten este proceso varias veces durante su vida. Nivel de Evidencia: IV. Tipo de estudio: Serie de casos.