Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease

A New Perspective

From the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine (R.S.-B., N.S., S.P.), the Nutrition and Health Sciences Graduate Program (S.P.), and the Department of Health and Physical Education (C.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Ga, and the Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala (J.W.-W.).

Correspondence to Sampath Parthasarathy, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Dr, WMB Room 4219, Atlanta, GA 30322. E-mail spartha{at}emory.edu

Abstract—The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been suggested as a key event in atherogenesis. Paradoxically, exercise, which imposes an oxidative stress, is an important deterrent of cardiovascular disease. In study 1 the oxidizability of LDL was enhanced in exercisers compared with sedentary controls. The lag time of isolated LDL subjected to copper-induced in vitro oxidation was significantly shortened in the exercisers compared with sedentary subjects. This increased sensitivity was not due to a decreased presence of vitamin E. Instead, these findings suggested that the LDL of exercisers may contain increased amounts of preformed lipid peroxides, which account for the increased oxidizability. In study 2, a groupxsex ANOVA revealed that male exercisers had a significantly longer mean lag time than male sedentary subjects and that females had similar mean lag times regardless of exercise group. This remained the case when statistical adjustment was made for age, body mass index, blood lipid levels, LDL, and plasma -tocopherol levels. Study 1 exercisers had been in training for a shorter time (<1 year) than study 2 exercisers (>2 years). These findings suggest that truly "chronic" exercise (aerobic intensity over several months) decreases the susceptibility of a male exerciser's LDL to undergo oxidation. Conversely, regular aerobic stress during an overall shorter time span creates a more oxidative environment in the body, thus increasing the susceptibility of LDL to undergo oxidation. The oxidative stress of aerobic exercise does not appear to adversely affect the oxidizability of LDL in women.

Key Words: exercise • oxidation • atherogenesis • LDL

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T.-a. Okabe, K. Shimada, M. Hattori, T. Murayama, M. Yokode, T. Kita, and C. Kishimoto Swimming reduces the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient mice by antioxidant effects Cardiovasc Res, June 1, 2007; 74(3): 537 - 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. J. Kullo, M. Khaleghi, and D. D. Hensrud Markers of inflammation are inversely associated with VO2 max in asymptomatic men J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2007; 102(4): 1374 - 1379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-S. Wang, T. Lee, and S.-E. Chow Role of exercise intensities in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-mediated redox status of monocyte in men J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2006; 101(3): 740 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Orth, J. A. Allen, J. G. Wood, and N. C. Gonzalez Exercise training prevents the inflammatory response to hypoxia in cremaster venules J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2005; 98(6): 2113 - 2118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Kasapis and P. D. Thompson The Effects of Physical Activity on Serum C-Reactive Protein and Inflammatory Markers: A Systematic Review J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., May 17, 2005; 45(10): 1563 - 1569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. G. Young, C. A. Knight, K. C. Vickers, D. Westbrook, N. R. Madamanchi, M. S. Runge, H. Ischiropoulos, and S. W. Ballinger Differential effects of exercise on aortic mitochondria Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): H1683 - H1689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-S. Wang, Y.-S. Li, J.-C. Chen, and Y.-W. Chen Effects of Exercise Training and Deconditioning on Platelet Aggregation Induced by Alternating Shear Stress in Men Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., February 1, 2005; 25(2): 454 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Williams, J. R. Kaplan, I. H. Suparto, J. L. Fox, and S. B. Manuck Effects of Exercise on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Monkeys With Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., May 1, 2003; 23(5): 864 - 871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Furukawa, K. Kazuma, M. Kawa, M. Miyashita, K. Niiro, R. Kusukawa, and M. Kojima Effects of an Off-Site Walking Program on Energy Expenditure, Serum Lipids, and Glucose Metabolism in Middle-Aged Women Biol Res Nurs, January 1, 2003; 4(3): 181 - 192. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Fukai, R. J Folz, U. Landmesser, and D. G Harrison Extracellular superoxide dismutase and cardiovascular disease Cardiovasc Res, August 1, 2002; 55(2): 239 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Abramson and V. Vaccarino Relationship Between Physical Activity and Inflammation Among Apparently Healthy Middle-aged and Older US Adults Arch Intern Med, June 10, 2002; 162(11): 1286 - 1292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Meilhac, S. Ramachandran, K. Chiang, N. Santanam, and S. Parthasarathy Role of Arterial Wall Antioxidant Defense in Beneficial Effects of Exercise on Atherosclerosis in Mice Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., October 1, 2001; 21(10): 1681 - 1688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Wiseman, J. D O'Reilly, H. Adlercreutz, A. I Mallet, E. A Bowey, I. R Rowland, and T. A. Sanders Isoflavone phytoestrogens consumed in soy decrease F2-isoprostane concentrations and increase resistance of low-density lipoprotein to oxidation in humans Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 395 - 400. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Meilhac, M. Zhou, N. Santanam, and S. Parthasarathy Lipid peroxides induce expression of catalase in cultured vascular cells J. Lipid Res., August 1, 2000; 41(8): 1205 - 1213. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. Taddei, F. Galetta, A. Virdis, L. Ghiadoni, G. Salvetti, F. Franzoni, C. Giusti, and A. Salvetti Physical Activity Prevents Age-Related Impairment in Nitric Oxide Availability in Elderly Athletes Circulation, June 27, 2000; 101(25): 2896 - 2901. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Parthasarathy, N. Santanam, S. Ramachandran, and O. Meilhac Oxidants and antioxidants in atherogenesis: an appraisal J. Lipid Res., December 1, 1999; 40(12): 2143 - 2157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]