Key result
High-volume endurance exercise is associated with increased coronary artery calcification in older men, though these plaques are predominantly calcified and may confer lower rupture risk.
Why the study?
High volumes of physical activity have been associated with increased coronary artery calcification in older male endurance athletes, but underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive.
Does high-volume endurance exercise increase coronary artery calcification in older male endurance athletes?
Does high-volume endurance exercise increase coronary artery calcification in older male endurance athletes?
This review outlines potential pathophysiological mechanisms, such as inflammation and mechanical stress, that may explain the paradoxical increase in coronary artery calcification observed in older male endurance athletes.
Reassures clinicians that exercise-induced coronary calcification may not carry typical.
Recent studies have found an association between high volumes of physical activity and increased levels of coronary artery calcification (CAC) among older male endurance athletes, yet the underlying mechanisms have remained largely elusive. Potential mechanisms include greater exposure to inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species and oxidised low-density lipoproteins, as acute strenuous physical activity has been found to enhance their systemic release. Other possibilities include post-exercise elevations in circulating parathyroid hormone, which can modify the amount and morphology of calcific plaque, and long-term exposure to non-laminar blood flow within the coronary arteries during vigorous physical activity, particularly in individuals with pre-existing atherosclerosis. Further, although the association has only been identified in men, the role of testosterone in this process remains unclear. This brief review discusses the association between high-volume endurance exercise and CAC in older men, elaborates on the potential mechanisms underlying the increased calcification, and provides clinical implications and recommendations for those at risk.
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Zambrano et al. (2023) conducted a review in Coronary artery calcification. High-volume endurance exercise vs. Sedentary lifestyle or lower volume exercise was evaluated. High-volume endurance exercise is associated with increased coronary artery calcification in older men, though these plaques are predominantly calcified and may confer lower rupture risk.
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