Individuals who maintain a good level of physical fitness between the ages of 30 and 50 tend to have more flexible arteries later in life. This finding comes from a new study conducted at the Karolinska Institute and published in the journal Scientific Reports. The association was observed regardless of cholesterol levels and other risk factors.
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality globally. Arterial stiffening, which can contribute to heart attacks and strokes, is an early indicator of increased risk. This research aimed to determine if physical activity in younger adulthood could predict blood vessel elasticity in older age.
The study utilized data from the Swedish SPAF-1958 longitudinal cohort study, led by Maria Westerståhl, which tracked 425 participants throughout their adult lives. Participants underwent examinations at ages 34, 52, and 63.
Physical fitness was assessed using a cycle ergometer test, blood samples were analyzed for lipid profiles, and arterial stiffness was measured non-invasively at age 63.
The results indicated that individuals with higher physical fitness at ages 34 and 52 had more elastic arteries at age 63. This relationship persisted even after accounting for factors such as blood pressure, body mass index, smoking status, and cholesterol levels. Interestingly, neither cholesterol levels nor improved levels of HDL, often referred to as “good” cholesterol, could predict arterial stiffness.
“Our findings suggest that being in good physical condition at a younger age is linked to vascular health later in life, independent of traditional risk factors,” stated Andrea Trifonos.
According to the researchers, these results imply that consistent physical activity may have a lasting positive impact on cardiovascular health that isn’t solely reflected by blood lipid profiles or other common risk markers.
“This highlights the importance of maintaining good physical fitness from early adulthood onwards to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Trifonos added.
The researchers are now planning to re-examine the participants at age 68 to investigate how changes in physical fitness over time influence vascular condition in older age.
This research was a collaborative effort involving the Department of Clinical Physiology and the Department of Clinical Chemistry at the Division of Laboratory Medicine, along with the Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge.
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