Vascular and Neuro-inflammatory Effects of Endurance Exercise Training in African Americans

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to test the effects of endurance exercise training on arterial structure and function, and to examine potential mechanisms producing changes in arterial structure and function in young (18-35 years of age) African Americans when compared to Caucasians.

Detailed Description
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African-Americans are at greater risk than Caucasians for developing hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and renal disease. This is likely related to arterial dysfunction including greater arterial stiffness, and reduced microvascular reactivity of resistance arteries in African-Americans. In addition, African-Americans have higher levels of inflammatory markers, and a greater sympathoexcitatory response to various stressors. This imbalance between sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic activation may directly affect vascular function and potentiate a greater inflammatory response, further altering key structural and functional properties of the vascular wall. The overall aim of this proposal is to test the effects of endurance exercise training on arterial structure and function, and to examine potential mechanisms producing changes in arterial structure and function in young (18-35 years of age) African Americans when compared to Caucasians. We will examine these effects at rest and following a high intensity (maximal cycle ergometry) sympathoexcitation at both pre- and post-intervention time points, since sympathoexcitation may elucidate changes not evident at rest. Because African-Americans have higher levels of arterial stiffness, lower microvascular reactivity, greater responses to sympathoexcitation, greater levels of inflammatory markers and greater vasoconstrictive tone, we hypothesize that African-Americans will show differential responses to exercise training and benefit more compared to a matched group of Caucasians.

Official Title
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Vascular and Neuro-inflammatory Effects of Endurance Exercise Training in African Americans

Conditions
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Vascular Health, Autonomic Function

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Endurance Exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Subjects in good health with no cardiovascular, metabolic, or inflammatory disease, who do not use cardiovascular medications or antioxidant vitamin supplementation, including use of anti-inflammatory (including aspirin) or steroidal substances in the past 2 months will be inlcuded Exclusion Criteria: Subjects who smoke, are severely obese (body mass index > 35 kg/m2), or who have hypertension (blood pressure >140/90mmHg), diabetes (fasting glucose >110mg/dl), hyperlipidemia, inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, etc) or diagnosed cardiovascular disease including, coronary heart disease, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia or renal disease, will be excluded

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: African American Group<br>A group of young African American males and females | Behavioral: Endurance Exercise<br>* 8 weeks of Endurance exercise training, 3-4 times per week, 45-60 minutes perr session<br>|
| Other: Caucasian Group<br>a group of young Caucasian men and women | Behavioral: Endurance Exercise<br>* 8 weeks of Endurance exercise training, 3-4 times per week, 45-60 minutes perr session<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arterial function |  | Pre, following a 4 week control period and after 8 weeks of exercise intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Autonomic function |  | Pre, following a 4 week control period and following 8 weeeks of an exercise intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Arterial stiffness, Endothelial function, Autonomic function, Inflammation