(Circulation. 2000;102:e168.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Correspondence |
Can Aerobic Exercise Training Be Hazardous to Human Vessels?
Laboratory of Vascular Investigations, University Hospital, Angers, France
To the Editor:
Exercise training is widely used as an efficient method of rehabilitation from or prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Improvement in endothelium-dependent vasodilation could be one of the underlying mechanisms of this effect, as was recently suggested by Higashi et al.1 Because the intensity and duration of training are directly related to performance improvement, it could be expected that highly trained athletes would be at a particularly low risk of vascular disease. Therefore, the recent description of endofibrosis (an original arterial disease affecting mainly highly trained cyclists) is puzzling.2 Endofibrosis occurs principally in the external iliac artery and is characterized by the progressive thickening of the endothelial arterial wall by fibrosis. Mechanical trauma, jet lesions, and local shear stress mechanisms have been suggested as causes, but they do not explain the preferential localization of the lesions. The affected athletes generally have no known cardiovascular risk factors. Further, histological examination rarely reveals lipid inclusions in the lesions, even in cases of extremely delayed diagnosis, suggesting that these lesions are not early atherosclerotic lesions. Finally, the relationship between endofibrosis and either metabolic mutations (eg, homocystinuria), or illegal drug use (eg, erythropoietin or growth hormone) is unclear. Because endofibrosis seems to be related to the level and duration of training (the disease is rare in athletes before they have cycled a total of 120 000 to 150 000 km), it is interesting to note that a recent study showed decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilation in humans after intense training,3 in contrast to the increase reported by Higashi et al.1 Thus, although aerobic exercise may augment endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation, "excessive," or at least intense, exercise training could be hazardous to human vessels. Finally, endofibrosis is possibly a unique clinical model of vascular impairment resulting from intense exercise training.
References
1.
Higashi
Y, Sasaki S, Kurisu S, et al. Regular aerobic exercise augments
endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in normotensive as well as
hypertensive subjects: role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.
Circulation. 1999;100:1194–1202.
2. Abraham P, Saumet JL, Chevalier JM. External iliac artery endofibrosis in athletes. Sports Med.. 1997;24:221–226.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
3. Bergholm R, Makimattila S, Valkonen M, et al. Intense physical training decreases circulating antioxidants and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in vivo. Atherosclerosis. 1999;145:341–349.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
Response
First Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan
Regular physical exercise reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the general population. Exercise-induced augmentation of endothelium-dependent vasodilation through an increase in nitric oxide may, at least in part, contribute to antiatherogenic and antihypertensive mechanisms of exercise.R1 However, we agree with Dr Abraham and colleagues that we must keep in mind the intensity, duration, frequency, and kind of exercise and that intense exercise training should be avoided because excess exercise can be hazardous to human vessels.
Bergholm et alR2 reported that 12
weeks of intense physical training, consisting of four 1-hour running
sessions per week at an intensity of 70% to 80% of maximal oxygen
consumption, decreased circulating antioxidants, such as uric acid,
sulfhydryl groups, 
-tocopherol, beta carotene, and retinol and
decreased acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in forearm vessels in
normal men. If the same exercise regimen is performed by hypertensive
patients, their blood pressure may be elevated in association with
these unfavorable effects. In addition, we also think that endofibrosis
is a unique clinical model of vascular impairment resulting from excess
exercise training, although the physiopathology of this disease and its
possible relationship with endothelial function are
unknown.R3
These findings suggest that long-term high-intensity
exercise training may impair endothelial function through a decrease in
antioxidants, an increase in free radicals, and a change in vascular
structure, resulting in a reduction in nitric oxide release. Thus, we
recommend a moderately intense exercise training program consisting of
30 to 60 minutes of walking, swimming, or bicycling, performed 
3
times per week at an intensity of 50% to 60% of maximal oxygen
consumption. Most individuals can safely and regularly perform such a
level of physical activity.
A special committee on hypertension has confirmed the beneficial effects of moderate-intensity exercise.R4 It has also been shown that high-intensity exercise generally does not alter blood pressure or cause blood pressure elevation.R5
Further investigation should be performed to determine the grade dependence of intensity and duration of exercise on endothelial function and blood pressure in individuals, including patients with essential hypertension.
References
1. Higashi Y, Sasaki S, Kurisu S, et al. Regular aerobic exercise augments endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in normotensive as well as hypertensive subjects: role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Circulation. 1999;100:1194–1202.
2. Bergholm R, Makinmattila S, Valkonen M, et al. Intense physical training decreases circulating antioxidants and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in vivo. Atherosclerosis. 1999;145:341–349.
3. Abraham P, Saumet JL, Chevalier JM. External iliac artery endofibrosis in athletes. Sport Med. 1997;24:221–226.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4.
Joint
National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High
Blood Pressure. The sixth report of the Joint National Committee on
Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-VI).
Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:2413–2446.
5. Roman O, Camuzzi AL, Villalon E, et al. Physical training programs in arterial hypertension: a long-term prospective follow-up. Cardiology. 1981;67:230–243.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
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