Abstract
Background: Ischaemic preconditioning has well-established cardiac and vascular protective effects. Short interventions (one week) of daily ischaemic preconditioning episodes improve conduit and microcirculatory function. This study examined whether a longer (eight wee1ks) and less frequent (three per week) protocol of repeated ischaemic preconditioning improves vascular function.
Methods: Eighteen males were randomly allocated to either ischaemic preconditioning (22.4±2.3 years, 23.7±3.1 kg/m2) or a control intervention (26.0±4.8 years, 26.4±1.9 kg/m2). Brachial artery endothelial-dependent (FMD), forearm cutaneous microvascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at zero, two and eight weeks.
Results: A greater improvement in FMD was evident following ischaemic preconditioning training compared with control at weeks 2 (2.24% (0.40, 4.08); p=0.02) and 8 (1.11% (0.13, 2.10); p=0.03). Repeated ischaemic preconditioning did not change cutaneous microcirculatory function or fitness.
Conclusions: These data indicate that a feasible and practical protocol of regular ischaemic preconditioning episodes improves endothelial function in healthy individuals within two weeks, and these effects persist following repeated ischaemic preconditioning for eight weeks.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1083-1087 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | European Journal of Preventive Cardiology |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 21 Aug 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2015 |
Keywords
- cardiovascular risk
- endothelial function
- microcirculation
- Remote ischaemic preconditioning
- vascular adaptation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine