The effect of eight weeks of aquatic training on vascular endothelial growth factor and atherogenic factors in overweight and obese men

Exercise training increases skeletal muscle capillary density, but the molecular mechanisms of this process are not yet clear. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of training in the water on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and atherogenic factors in overweight and obese men.

22 men with BMI = 30±3 voluntarily participated in this study which were randomly divided into two groups of control and training in water (n=11). The training program consisted of three sessions per week for eight weeks with intensity between 60 to 80 percent of maximal heart rate. Body mass index, body fat percentage and weight of the subjects were measured before and after the intervention. Venous blood samples which had been obtained in the pre-test and post-test were used to measure serum levels of VEGF and atherogenic factors.

The results showed that serum levels of VEGF increased from 1517.63 to 1648.27, which this increment in the training group was significant compared to the control group (p <0.001). Although, LDL/HDL, TC/HDL, and TG/HDL ratio were significantly decreased in the training group compared to the control group (p<0.001).

Training program in water might improve metabolic conditions by an increment of the serum levels of VEGF and decrement of atherogenic factors.