Impact of eight weeks of repeated ischaemic preconditioning on brachial artery and cutaneous microcirculatory function in healthy males. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Helen; Nyakayiru, Jean; Bailey, Tom G; Green, Daniel J; Cable, N Timothy; Sprung, Victoria S; Hopkins, Nicola D; Thijssen, Dick HJ
• Is Part Of: European journal of preventive cardiology. Volume 22:Number 8(2015)
• Page Start: 1083
• Page End: 1087
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Remote ischaemic preconditioning -- microcirculation -- endothelial function -- cardiovascular risk -- vascular adaptation; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cardiac patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1177/2047487314547657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4873

Abstract

Background: Ischaemic preconditioning has well-established cardiac and vascular protective effects. Short interventions (one week) of daily ischaemic preconditioning episodes improve conduit and microcirculatory function. This study examined whether a longer (eight weeks) and less frequent (three per week) protocol of repeated ischaemic preconditioning improves vascular function. Methods: Eighteen males were randomly allocated to either ischaemic preconditioning (22.4 ± 2.3 years, 23.7 ± 3.1 kg/m 2 ) or a control intervention (26.0 ± 4.8 years, 26.4 ± 1.9 kg/m 2 ). Brachial artery endothelial-dependent (FMD), forearm cutaneous microvascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at zero, two and eight weeks. Results: A greater improvement in FMD was evident following ischaemic preconditioning training compared with control at weeks 2 (2.24% (0.40, 4.08); p =0.02) and 8 (1.11% (0.13, 2.10); p =0.03). Repeated ischaemic preconditioning did not change cutaneous microcirculatory function or fitness. Conclusions: These data indicate that a feasible and practical protocol of regular ischaemic preconditioning episodes improves endothelial function in healthy individuals within two weeks, and these effects persist following repeated ischaemic preconditioning for eight weeks.