A Comparison of Sympathetic Neural and Endothelial Vasoreactivity of Brachial Artery in Elite Weightlifters with a Sedentary Age-Matched Control Group

The aim of the present study was to compare the sympathetic neural and endothelial responses of brachial artery to vasodilatory and constrictor stimuli in elite weightlifters and a sedentary age-matched control group. 7 elite weightlifters (age 23.5±2.2 yrs) and 8 sedentary healthy subjects (age 24.3±2.12 yrs) voluntarily participated in this study. High-resolution Doppler ultrasound was used to determine brachial artery diameters at rest, following 5 minutes of forearm occlusion [Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD)] and during acute sympathetic stimulation [cold pressure test (CPT)]. Vasoreactivity responses were calculated from the vasodilatory and constrictor peak changes in artery diameter. The acquired data were analyzed using independent t test and repeated measures method at P≤0.05. Brachial artery diameters in baseline [mean differences, 0.5 mm (P=0.001)], peak vasodilation [mean differences, 0.57 mm (P=0.002)] and peak constriction [mean differences, 0.498 mm (P=0.003)] were significantly greater in weightlifters than control group. However, no significant difference was observed in %FMD, %CPT and vascular operating range (VOR) between weightlifters and age-matched control group (P≤0.05). The present study indicated that the function of brachial artery is not necessarily enhanced in elite weightlifters. However, elite weightlifters had larger brachial artery diameter than age-matched healthy control subjects.