Regular exercise prevents and regresses atherosclerosis by improving lipid metabolism and antioxidant defenses. Exercise ameliorates the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), an antiatherogenic system that drives cholesterol from arterial macrophages to the liver for excretion into bile and feces. In this study we analyzed the role of aerobic exercise on the in vivo RCT and expression of genes and proteins involved in lipid flux and inflammation in peritoneal macrophages, aortic arch and liver from wild type mice. Twelve-week-old male mice were divided into sedentary and trained groups. Exercise training was performed in a treadmill (15 m/min, 30 min/day, 5 days/week). Plasma lipids were determined by enzymatic methods and lipoprotein profile by fast protein liquid chromatography. After intraperitoneal injection of J774-macrophages the RCT was assessed by measuring the recovery of 3H-cholesterol in plasma, feces and liver. The expression of liver receptors was determined by immunoblot, macrophages and aortic mRNAs by qRT-PCR. 14C-cholesterol efflux mediated by apo A-I and HDL2 and the uptake of 3H-cholesteryl oleoyl ether (3H-COE)-acetylated-LDL were determined in macrophages isolated from sedentary and trained animals 48 h after the last exercise session. Body weight, plasma lipids, lipoprotein profile, glucose and blood pressure were not modified by exercise training. A greater amount of 3H-cholesterol was recovered in plasma (24 h and 48 h) and liver (48 h) from trained animals in comparison to sedentary. No difference was found in 3H-cholesterol excreted in feces between trained and sedentary mice. The hepatic expression of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) and LDL receptor (B-E) was enhanced by exercise. We observed 2.8 and 1.7 fold rise, respectively, in LXR and Cyp7a mRNA in the liver of trained as compared to sedentary mice. Macrophage and aortic expression of genes involved in lipid efflux was not systematically changed by physical exercise. In agreement, 14C-cholestrol efflux and uptake of 3H-COE-acetylated-LDL by macrophages was similar between sedentary and trained animals. Aerobic exercise in vivo accelerates the traffic of cholesterol from macrophages to the liver contributing to prevention and regression of atherosclerosis, independently of changes in macrophage and aorta gene expression.

Fundamento: A síndrome metabólica representa um conjunto de fatores predisponentes para desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares e outras repercussões fisiopatológicas como diminuição da capacidade aeróbia, importante marcador de mortalidade. Devido a limitações na mensuração do VO2max, estudos sobre o comportamento dos parâmetros ventilatórios em fases submáximas do exercício se fazem necessários para que possa reproduzir o desempenho geral do paciente durante esforço físico máximo. Objetivo: Comparar a capacidade cardiorrespiratória entre mulheres com síndrome metabólica e mulheres eutróficas sedentárias. Métodos: Foram avaliados 277 indivíduos (42,1 ± 5,5 anos) do sexo feminino, divididos em dois grupos, Grupo 1 – Síndrome Metabólica (SMet = 210) e Grupo 2 – Controle saudável (CS = 67), todos os pacientes realizaram o teste ergoespirométrico, que consiste na execução de exercício graduado com análise direta dos gases respiratórios. Os dados foram expressos em média e desvio-padrão e a análise inferencial realizada com o Teste T student. Para as correlações multivariadas, foi utilizado o modelo de regressão linear de stepwise. Para todos os testes, o nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: O Grupo com SMet apresentou prejuízo quando comparado ao CS no peso, índice de massa corpórea e nos fatores de risco da SMet (circunferência abdominal, glicemia, triglicérides, HDL-c (lipoproteínas de alta densidade) e pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica, p < 0,05). No Teste de Exercício Cardiopulmonar (TECP), o grupo SMet apresentou menores valores de consumo de oxigênio pico (VO2pico, 21,2 ± 4,6; e 27,5 ± 9,3 ml/kg/min, respectivamente, Interação; P < 0,05) comparados com CS. Da mesma forma, o SMet obteve menor valor para o limiar anaeróbio VO2LA (14,3 ± 7,1; e 12,1 ± 4,0; Interação; P < 0,05), correlacionando-se diretamente com as IMC (R = -0,48; P < 0,05) e CA (R =-0,47; P = 0,05). Conclusão: Pacientes com SMet apresentam diminuição da eficiência cardiorrespiratória frente ao exercício progressivo máximo.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as hypocaloric diets (HD) and structured physical training (PT), have shown promise in improving metabolic and functional outcomes in this population. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week program combining HD with PT on ventilatory efficiency and cardiometabolic risk markers in women with MetS. Forty-one sedentary women (aged 45–55 years) with clinically diagnosed MetS underwent anthropometric, metabolic, nutritional, and cardiopulmonary assessments before and after the intervention. Participants engaged in 60 min exercise sessions three times per week and followed a personalized hypocaloric diet targeting 5–10% weight loss. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) in body weight (from 86.6 kg ± 3.3 kg to 78.2 kg ± 3.3 kg), body fat percentage (40.1% ± 0.6% to 33.4% ± 1.6%), and waist circumference (105.1 cm ± 1.2 cm to 95.7 cm ± 1.9 cm). Improvements were also observed in fasting glucose (from 117.1 mg/dL to 95.1 mg/dL) and triglycerides (158.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL to 111.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL), and in lean mass percentage (59.9% ± 6.5% to 66.6% ± 1.7%). Cardiopulmonary variables showed enhanced ventilatory function, with increased VO₂peak (1.59 L/min ± 0.1 L/min to 1.74 ± 0.1 L/min), improved oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), and a steeper VO₂/workload relationship. Resting heart rate and blood pressure declined significantly (69.9 bpm ± 2.0 bpm to 64.9 ± 1.8 bpm; 145.4 mmHg ± 3.9/80.2 ± 3.0 mmHg to 140.1 mmHg ± 2.7/75.2 ± 1.6 mmHg). In conclusion, the 16-week intervention combining HD with PT proved effective for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors and enhancing ventilatory efficiency, suggesting improved integration of oxygen uptake, transport, and utilization in the women with MetS assessed.

Introdução: A insuficiência cardíaca origina-se de diversas etiologias resultando em comprometimento cardiorrespiratório durante o esforço físico. Objetivo: Comparar o comportamento das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias, inclinação da eficiência de absorção de oxigênio e a relação entre a ventilação pulmonar e a produção de dióxido de carbono entre indivíduos com insuficiência cardíaca e indivíduos saudáveis. Métodos: Foram avaliados 61 indivíduos (61,2 ± 7,8 anos) do sexo masculino, separados em dois grupos: Grupo IC – Pacientes com Insuficiência Cardíaca (n =40) e Grupo C - Controle (n = 21). Os voluntários realizaram avaliações dos seguintes parâmetros: idade, altura, massa corporal e índice de massa corporal. Também foi realizado o teste ergoespirométrico, com análise direta dos gases respiratórios: VE/VCO2, VO2pico, PetCO2, OUES e as variáveis hemodinâmicas: frequência cardíaca máxima, frequência cardíaca de recuperação após o 1º minuto e o ecocardiograma. Foi realizado o teste Kolmorovsminoff para normalidade, os dados foram expressos em média e erro-padrão e a análise inferencial realizada com os Testes Anova e Post-Hoc de Scheffé, considerando p≤0,05. Resultados: Os resultados antropométricos, hemodinâmicos e das variáveis respiratórias para o grupo IC e C, respectivamente, foram: idade = 61,0±8,2 vs. 61,5±7,4 anos (p>0,05), altura = 1,72±5,8 vs. 1,72±6,8m (p>0,05), massa corporal = 77,3±9,9 vs. 78,3±9,0kg (p>0,05), IMC = 26,5±3,0 vs. 26,2±2,8 kg/m2 (p>0,05), fração de ejeção = 31,2±4,1 vs. 64,7±3,9mL (p<0,001), frequência cardíaca máxima = 128,6±22,9 vs. 143,6±15,5bpm (p<0,02), frequência cardíaca de recuperação após o 1º minuto = -17,4±5,4 vs. -25,0±4,9bpm (p<0,05), VE/VCO2slope = 38,8±5,6 vs. 28,2±3,9L/min (p<0,003), VO2pico = 20,0±4,0 vs. 36,7±5,5ml/kg/ min (p<0,05), PetCO2 = 29,5±3,0 vs. 31,7±2,4mmHg (p<0,05) e OUES = 1,81±0,4 vs. 2,3±0,3 (p<0,05). Conclusão: Pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca apresentaram elevados valores da VE/VCO2 e baixos valores do OUES, o que repercute em limitação da capacidade funcional e início precoce de acidose metabólica. Nível de Evidência I; Estudo Prospectivo de Alta Qualidade.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive biomarker widely used to assess autonomic regulation, training adaptation, and recovery status in athletes. However, studies involving soccer players under 17 years of age remain scarce, particularly those integrating physiological and psychophysiological markers in real competitive contexts. This study aimed to analyze autonomic modulation using time-domain HRV (natural logarithm of the root mean square of successive difference LnRMSSD) and its relationship with subjective indicators of recovery and load in under-17 elite soccer athletes. An observational longitudinal study was conducted with fourteen elite male soccer players from Santos Futebol Clube (age: 16.2 ± 0.42 years) monitored over four competitive weeks. Morning HRV was recorded using a validated ultra-short two-minute protocol, while psychophysiological measures included perceived recovery status (PRS), session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), perceived stress, and mood. The athletes demonstrated no statistically significant temporal changes in RMSSD or LnRMSSD throughout the monitoring period, with mean values of LnRMSSD = 4.06 ± 0.68 and RMSSD = 68.78 ± 33.62 ms. Significant associations were observed between LnRMSSD and PRS (r = 0.61; p < 0.04), sRPE (r = −0.67; p < 0.03), and perceived stress (r = −0.77; p < 0.01), indicating, under the conditions of this study, coherence between physiological and perceptual indicators of internal load and recovery status. In conclusion, the results suggest that elite under-17 soccer players maintained stable autonomic modulation during the competitive period analyzed. Furthermore, the observed associations between HRV and subjective measures support the potential value of integrating physiological and perceptual indicators when monitoring recovery and readiness in youth soccer athletes.