Regular aerobic exercise counteracts endothelial vasomotor dysfunction associated with insufficient sleep

Abstract

Habitual insufficient nightly sleep (<7 h/night) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and events. Endothelial dysfunction, specifically reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation and increased endothelin (ET)-1-mediated vasoconstriction, is considered to be a major contributing mechanism underlying increased vascular risk with insufficient sleep. In contrast to insufficient sleep, regular aerobic exercise enhances endothelial vasomotor function, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and associated events. In the present study, we determined the effects of aerobic exercise training on endothelium-dependent vasodilation and ET-1 vasoconstriction in adults who habitually sleep <7 h/night. After exercise training, although nightly sleep duration was unchanged, endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly enhanced and ET-1-mediated vasoconstrictor tone was significantly reduced in adults who sleep <7 h/night. Regular aerobic exercise training can mitigate insufficient sleep-related endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and, in turn, potentially reduce the cardiovascular risk associated with habitual insufficient nightly sleep.