INTRODUCTION Exercise improves vascular function, but it is unclear whether benefits are mediated by traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, or whether sex differences in training effects exist in older adults. We hypothesized that exercise would improve CV risk factors, that males and females would benefit similarly, and that improvements in risk factors would correlate with changes in vascular function. METHODS Seventy-two healthy middle-aged/older adults (age = 62 ± 7, 26%♂) were randomized to a land-walking (LW, n = 23), water-walking (WW, n = 25) or a non-exercise control group (C, n = 23). The exercise groups undertook supervised and monitored training 3 times/week for 50 min per session, across 24 weeks. Blood pressure, body composition (DXA), blood lipids and glucose, and flow mediated brachial artery dilation (FMD) were assessed in all participants at weeks 0 and 24. To maximize power for sex differences and correlation analyses, we pooled the training groups (LW + WW). RESULTS Training prevented increases in LDL and TC:HDL ratio observed in C group. No group x time interactions were observed for other risk factors. Sex differences in training effects existed for visceral fat (-187 ± 189 g♂ vs -15 ± 161 g♀; P = 0.006), and lean mass (-352 ± 1045 g♂ vs 601 ± 1178 g♀; P = 0.008). Improvement in FMD was correlated with decreased waist girth (r = -0.450, P = 0.036), but not with other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Exercise training prevented deterioration in lipid levels, whilst sex differences existed for body composition changes with training. Improvement in vascular function was not dependent on changes in risk factors in middle-aged/older adults, suggesting that artery health may be dependent upon other exercise-related stimuli.

中文翻译：

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水和陆上运动训练对中老年男性和女性危险因素和血管功能的影响。

引言 运动可以改善血管功能，但目前尚不清楚这种益处是否是由传统心血管 (CV) 危险因素介导的，也不清楚老年人中训练效果是否存在性别差异。我们假设运动会改善心血管危险因素，男性和女性都会受益类似，并且危险因素的改善将与血管功能的变化相关。方法 72 名健康中年/老年人（年龄 = 62 ± 7，26%♂）被随机分为陆地行走（LW，n = 23）、水中行走（WW，n = 25）或非行走组。 -运动对照组（C，n = 23）。锻炼组每周进行 3 次监督和监测训练，每次 50 分钟，持续 24 周。在第 0 周和第 24 周对所有参与者的血压、身体成分 (DXA)、血脂和血糖以及血流介导的肱动脉扩张 (FMD) 进行了评估。为了最大限度地发挥性别差异和相关性分析的功效，我们将训练组合并在一起（长宽+宽宽）。结果 训练可防止 C 组中观察到的 LDL 和 TC:HDL 比率增加。没有观察到其他危险因素的组x时间交互作用。内脏脂肪（-187 ± 189 g♂ vs -15 ± 161 g♀；P = 0.006）和去脂体重（-352 ± 1045 g♂ vs 601 ± 1178 g♀；P = 0.008）训练效果存在性别差异。FMD 的改善与腰围减小相关（r = -0.450，P = 0.036），但与其他危险因素无关。结论 运动训练可以防止血脂水平恶化，而训练期间身体成分的变化存在性别差异。血管功能的改善并不依赖于中老年人危险因素的变化，这表明动脉健康可能依赖于其他与运动相关的刺激。