Comparison of Brachial Artery Vasoreactivity Range Indices in Elite Athletes with Non-athlete Subjects

Vasoreactivity range indices may provide important information about the manner in which blood flow is distributed within the body during times of increased metabolic stress. The aim of present study was to compare the brachial artery vasoreactivity range indices in elite athletes and non-athlete subjects.

Seven elite weightlifters, 7 elite rowers, and 8 untrained healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this study. High-resolution ultrasound was used to determine brachial artery diameters at rest following 5 minutes of forearm occlusion and during acute sympathetic stimulation. Vasodilatory responses were calculated from the peak change in artery diameter, and vasoconstrictor responses were determined from the nadir values in response to stimuli, respectively. Differences in measured variables among the groups were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Baseline, peak and nadir values brachial artery diameters were significantly greater in weightlifters and rowers than control group. Despite no significant difference was observed in FMD%, CPT% and Vascular operating range (VOR) weightlifters, rowers and non-athlete subjects (P < 0.05).

These results provide support the ‘athlete paradox hypotheses’ and suggest that chronic power and endurance exercise training don’t affect brachial artery vasoreactivity range indices and elite athletes possess functionally ‘normal’ arteries. However, elite athletes possess larger conduit brachial artery diameter at rest and in response to vasodilator and vasoconstrictor stimuli than non-athlete subjects