Effects of Acute Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Stiffness Before and After Glucose Ingestion

The purpose of present study was to compare the acute effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (65% peak oxygen uptake, 30 min) on arterial stiffness before and after glucose ingestion. 11 healthy young males completed 4 trials in random order. They started aerobic exercise at 90 min before (-90 min-EX), 60 min before (-60 min-EX), 30 min after (30 min-EX), and 60 min after (60 min-EX) the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Aortic (carotid-femoral) and leg (femoral-ankle) pulse wave velocity (PWV), brachial and ankle blood pressure (BP), blood glucose (BG) and insulin levels were measured at 90 min (baseline) and 30 min before and at 30, 60 and 120 min after the 75-g OGTT. Aortic PWV and brachial systolic BP did not change from baseline after the 75-g OGTT in all trials. Leg PWV and ankle systolic BP increased from baseline after the 75-g OGTT in the -90, 30 and 60 min-EX, but not in the -60 min-EX. Levels of BG and insulin increased from baseline after the 75-g OGTT in all trials. These results suggest that the aerobic exercise most effectively suppresses the increase in peripheral arterial stiffness after glucose ingestion when implemented before glucose ingestion.