This study found that moderate-intensity resistance training did not increase arterial stiffness in middle-aged women, which may have great importance for health promotion with resistance training.

The Klotho gene is a suppressor of the aging phenomena, and the secretion as well as the circulation of Klotho proteins decrease with aging. Although habitual exercise has antiaging effects (e.g., a decrease in arterial stiffness), the relationship between Klotho and habitual exercise remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of habitual exercise on Klotho, with a particular focus on arterial stiffness. First, we examined the correlation between plasma Klotho concentration and arterial stiffness (carotid artery compliance and ␤-stiffness index) or aerobic exercise capacity [oxygen uptake at ventilatory threshold (VT)] in 69 healthy, postmenopausal women (50 -76 years old) by conducting a cross-sectional study. Second, we tested the effects of aerobic exercise training on plasma Klotho concentrations and arterial stiffness. A total of 19 healthy, postmenopausal women (50 -76 years old) were divided into two groups: control group and exercise group. The exercise group completed 12 wk of moderate aerobic exercise training. In the crosssectional study, plasma Klotho concentrations positively correlated with carotid artery compliance and VT and negatively correlated with the ␤-stiffness index. In the interventional study, aerobic exercise training increased plasma Klotho concentrations and carotid artery compliance and decreased the ␤-stiffness index. Moreover, the changes in plasma Klotho concentration and arterial stiffness were found to be correlated. These results suggest a possible role for secreted Klotho in the exercise-induced modulation of arterial stiffness.Klotho; aerobic exercise; arterial stiffness AN INCREASE IN ARTERIAL STIFFNESS is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (22, 51). Arterial stiffness is known to increase with aging (39). Moreover, menopause augments the age-related increase in arterial stiffness (56), and older women have higher arterial stiffness than do men (52). Furthermore, habitual aerobic exercise decreases arterial stiffness in middle-aged and elderly individuals and postmenopausal women (45,47). Several reports have suggested that the mechanisms by which aerobic exercise training decreases the arterial stiffness could be partly mediated by the enhancement of endothelial function, suppression of oxidative stress, and inflammation (24,27,46). However, the precise mechanism underlying the aerobic exercise-induced modulation of arterial stiffness remains unclear.

Vascular endothelial function is declines with aging and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modification, particularly aerobic exercise and dietary adjustment, has a favorable effect on vascular aging. Curcumin is a major component of turmeric with known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. We investigated the effects of curcumin ingestion and aerobic exercise training on flow-mediated dilation as an indicator endothelial function in postmenopausal women. A total of 32 postmenopausal women were assigned to 3 groups: control, exercise, and curcumin groups. The curcumin group ingested curcumin orally for 8 weeks. The exercise group underwent moderate aerobic exercise training for 8 weeks. Before and after each intervention, flow-mediated dilation was measured. No difference in baseline flow-mediated dilation or other key dependent variables were detected among the groups. Flow-mediated dilation increased significantly and equally in the curcumin and exercise groups, whereas no changes were observed in the control group. Our results indicated that curcumin ingestion and aerobic exercise training can increase flow-mediated dilation in postmenopausal women, suggesting that both can potentially improve the age-related decline in endothelial function.

These findings suggest that regular endurance exercise combined with daily curcumin ingestion may reduce LV afterload to a greater extent than monotherapy with either intervention alone in postmenopausal women.

We concluded that LTP ingestion combined with regular aerobic exercise improves endothelium-dependent dilatation to a greater extent than monotherapy with either intervention alone in postmenopausal women.

Central arterial compliance plays an important role in the functional abilities of the vasculature. Two active tripeptides, valine-proline-proline and isoleucine-proline-proline, were isolated from sour milk and were referred to as lactotripeptides (LTP). Because LTP appears to act as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, it is plausible to hypothesize that LTP improves arterial compliance. We determined the effects of LTP ingestion alone or in combination with regular aerobic exercise on arterial compliance. A total of 55 postmenopausal women (50 -65 yr old) were randomly divided into four groups: placebo, LTP, exercise and placebo (Ex ϩ placebo), or exercise and LTP (Ex ϩ LTP). LTP or placebo was administered orally for 8 wk. The exercise groups completed an 8-wk moderate aerobic exercise intervention. There were no differences in baseline arterial compliance and most other key dependent variables among the groups. Carotid arterial compliance increased significantly in the LTP (0.93 Ϯ 0.07 vs. 0.99 Ϯ 0.08 mm 2 /mmHg ⅐ 10 Ϫ1 ), Ex ϩ placebo (0.92 Ϯ 0.04 vs. 1.00 Ϯ 0.05 mm 2 /mmHg ⅐ 10 Ϫ1 ), and Ex ϩ LTP groups (0.86 Ϯ 0.06 vs. 1.00 Ϯ 0.06 mm 2 /mmHg ⅐ 10 Ϫ1 ), whereas no such changes were observed in the placebo control group (0.86 Ϯ 0.06 vs. 0.85 Ϯ 0.07 mm 2 / mmHg ⅐ 10 Ϫ1 ). The magnitude of increases in carotid arterial compliance was significantly greater in the Ex ϩ LTP group (19 Ϯ 4%) than in other groups. The improvements in arterial compliance with LTP were associated with the corresponding reductions in arterial blood pressure and plasma angiotensin II concentrations. We concluded that LTP ingestion improves carotid arterial compliance and that the combination of LTP ingestion and regular exercise is additive and synergistic in improving arterial compliance in postmenopausal women. fermented milk; peptide; physical activity; lifestyle; arterial stiffness ARTERIAL COMPLIANCE PLAYS an important role in the functional abilities of the vasculature. Central arterial compliance decreases with advancing age in both men and women (20). However, women demonstrate a greater age-related decrease after menopause (27, 29), making postmenopausal women more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A reduction in arterial compliance contributes to the pathophysiology of CVD and has been identified as powerful and independent risk factors for CVD (6). Additionally, decreased arterial compliance is associated with clinically important pathophysiological sequela, including ventricular hypertrophy, aortic root dilation, valvular dysfunction, and heart failure (20).Calpis sour milk is cultured milk produced by fermented skim milk with a natural starter culture containing several microorganisms. This commercial drink has been widely consumed in Japan for many years, especially by children, and it is believed to provide a number of health benefits. Recently, two active tripeptides, valine-proline-proline (VPP) and isoleucine-proline-proline (IPP), collectively referred to as lactotripeptides (LTP), have been isolate...

Obesity and reduction in central arterial distensibility, respectively, have been identified as powerful and independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of weight reduction on central arterial function in obese subjects has not yet been clarified. We investigated whether low-calorie diet-induced weight reduction affects central arterial distensibility and endothelial function in middle-aged obese men. Twelve obese men (age: 45+2 yrs, BMI: 30+1 kg/m 2) completed a 12-week dietary intervention. Caloric restriction induced significantly weight loss and decrease in BMI. After the program, carotid arterial compliance significantly increased and b-stiffness index and aortic pulse-wave velocity remarkably decreased. Concentrations of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) significantly decreased and plasma nitric oxide (NO) markedly increased after the program. Weight reduction by low-calorie diet in obese men increases central arterial distensibility, which may contribute to the improvement in endothelial function, as noted by a decrease in ET-1 and an increase in NO.

The effect of habitual exercise on vascular function, including central arterial distensibility and endothelial function, in obese subjects has not yet been clarified.We investigated whether aerobic exercise training affects central arterial distensibility and endothelial function in middle-aged overweight and obese men. Twenty-one overweight and obese men (age: 50 ± 2 years, body mass index ( This increase may contribute to the improvement in endothelial function, as assessed by a decrease in ET-1 and an increase in NO, after exercise training-induced weight loss.