Functional Exercise Capacity: ItÂ’s Relation with Basal Nitric Oxide and Resting Cardiac Autonomic Activity in Young Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Background: Functional exercise capacity is a better predictor of adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and healthy individuals as well. Mechanism of limitations in functional exercise capacity associated with CVD is not clear. Autonomic nervous system and local factors produced by the endothelium regulate the amount of blood flow to the different parts of the body. The aim of the study was to investigate if basal nitric oxide (NO) and resting cardiac autonomic activity determines the functional exercise capacity; and if basal NO is associated with the cardiac autonomic function in young healthy individuals.