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Background: Healthy vascular aging (HVA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are each independently associated with lower cardiovascular disease-related mortality. It is unknown, however, whether the CRF-related reductions in cardiovascular disease risk are related to HVA. We hypothesized that HVA would be associated with higher CRF in men and women from the Ball State Adult Fitness Longitudinal Lifestyle STudy (BALL ST). Methods: Apparently healthy men and women ≥50 yr of age from the BALL ST cohort (n = 101) who underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess CRF (V˙O 2peak) were included in the study. Participants were divided into either HVA, defined as brachial systolic blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg without taking medications and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity <7.6 m/sec, or no HVA for subjects with SBP >140/90 mm Hg and/or PWV >7.6 m/sec. Results: Participants with HVA had a higher age- and sex-adjusted CRF percentile (62 ± 5 vs 47 ± 3, P < .05), with women having a greater prevalence of HVA than men (36% vs 15%, P < .05). Both carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (r =−0.27, P < .05) and brachial systolic blood pressure (r =−0.23, P < .05) were independently and inversely associated with CRF for the entire cohort. Men and women with HVA were younger having a lower body fat percentage and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < .05, all). Conclusions: These data demonstrate that HVA is associated with higher CRF, which may partially explain the preventative cardioprotective effects of CRF.

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Aging results in aortic perivascular adipose tissue (aPVAT) mediated aortic stiffening in preclinical animal models to promote cardiovascular dysfunction. We hypothesized greater human aPVAT density will be associated with aging, higher aortic stiffness and blood pressure (BP). Fourteen apparently healthy adults (6M/8F, age range 20-79 y) were recruited for this study. Aortic stiffness, assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), resting aortic BP via pulse wave analysis and aPVAT and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) density by computed tomography attenuation were acquired. aPVAT and epididymal (visceral) fat from young (4-6 mo) and old (27-29 mo) mice were used for ex vivo conditioned media intrinsic mechanical stiffness experiments. Compared with young, older adults had higher cfPWV (8.6±0.4 vs 6.2±0.6 m/s, p<0.05) and greater aPVAT attenuation (-80.2±2.0 vs -95.9±1.5 HU, p<0.05), but not VAT attenuation (p>0.05). aPVAT conditioned media from old compared with young mice increased intrinsic mechanical stiffness of the aorta (4519±510 vs. 2325±563 kPa, p<0.05) which was not observed with epididymal fat conditioned media from old (p>0.05). aPVAT but not VAT density was positively associated with age (r=0.89), cfPWV (r=0.56), resting AIxHR75 (r=0.67), aortic systolic BP (r=0.58) and aortic pulse pressure (PP) (r=0.59) (p<0.05, all) and were independent of VAT density (p<0.05, all). These data herein provide evidence for aPVAT as a novel fat depot and therapeutic target to lower aortic stiffness and future CVD risk with aging in humans.

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Nutraceutical-based interventions hold promise to reduce blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness, which are two cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, the effects of coconut sap powder (CSP), an Asian sweetener and novel nutraceutical, on BP and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults (MA/O, ≥ 45 y) has yet to be established. We hypothesized CSP will decrease BP and arterial stiffness in MA/O adults. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design, nineteen (age 55.3 ± 2.1 y) MA/O adults completed measures of brachial and carotid BP, and arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV], common carotid artery (CCA) β-stiffness, compliance, distensibility, and Young's and Peterson's Elastic moduli) before and after 8 weeks of CSP (1.5 g/day) or placebo (1.5 g/day). A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare group mean differences. Compared to placebo, CSP lowered brachial systolic BP (SBP) (CSP pre: 117.4 ± 2.9 vs post: 109.0 ± 2.4 mmHg, p<0.05), but not carotid SBP (p=0.12). CSP also lowered Youngs (CSP pre: 5514.4 ± 1115.4 vs post: 3690.6 ± 430.9 kPa) and Peterson's Elastic moduli (CSP pre: 22.2 ± 4.4 vs post: 19.2 ± 4.5 kPa) (p<0.05, both). A trend for CSP to lower CCA β-stiffness (p=0.06) and increase CCA compliance (p=0.07) was also observed. Arterial stiffness assessed by cfPWV did not change (p>0.05). No inflammatory or antioxidant biomarkers were affected by CSP. In summary, 8 weeks of CSP lowers brachial SBP and CCA mechanical stiffness indicating a potential cardioprotective effect in MA/O adults.