期刊名称:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN:0027-8424
电子版ISSN:1091-6490
出版年度:2004
卷号:101
期号:23
页码:8797-8802
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0402734101
语种:English
出版社:The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要:The pathogenic mechanisms by which physical exercise influences atherosclerotic lesion formation remain poorly understood. Because vigorous physical training increases oxidative stress, this study tested the hypothesis that graduated and moderate physical exercise together with metabolic intervention (L-arginine and antioxidants) may contribute to increased vascular protection. Exercise training in mice was induced by graduated swimming. In hypercholesterolemic male mice on an atherogenic high-cholesterol diet, graduated and moderate exercise lowered plasma cholesterol and decreased atherosclerotic lesions compared with sedentary control mice. Antioxidants (1.0% vitamin E added to the chow and 0.05% vitamin C added to the drinking water) and L-arginine (6% in drinking water) supplementation to exercising hypercholesterolemic mice further and synergistically reduced atherosclerosis compared with untreated exercised mice. Arterial oxidation-specific epitopes and systemic oxidative stress were reduced by metabolic intervention. Graduated chronic exercise elicited an increase in production of nitric oxide through increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and ameliorated scavenger activities. Thus, metabolic intervention with L-arginine and antioxidants together with graduated and moderate exercise training reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation.