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Training-related modulations of the autonomic nervous system in endurance athletes: is female gender cardioprotective?

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Abstract

The risk of sudden death is increased in athletes with a male predominance. Regular physical activity increases vagal tone, and may protect against exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias. We investigated training-related modulations of the autonomic nervous system in female and male endurance athletes. Runners of a 10-mile race were invited. Of 873 applicants, 68 female and 70 male athletes were randomly selected and stratified according to their average weekly training hours in a low (≤4 h) and high (>4 h) volume training group. Analysis of heart rate variability was performed over 24 h. Spectral components (high frequency [HF] and low frequency [LF] power in normalized units) were analyzed for hourly 5 min segments and averaged for day- and nighttime. One hundred and fourteen athletes (50 % female, mean age 42 ± 7 years) were included. No significant gender difference was observed for training volume and 10-mile race time. Over the 24-h period, female athletes exhibited a higher HF and lower LF power for each hourly time-point. Female gender and endurance training hours were independent predictors of a higher HF and lower LF power. In female athletes, higher training hours were associated with a higher HF and lower LF power during nighttime. In male athletes, the same was true during daytime. In conclusion, female and male athletes showed a different circadian pattern of the training-related increase in markers of vagal tone. For a comparable amount of training volume, female athletes maintained their higher markers of vagal tone, possibly indicating a superior protection against exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an internal grant of the Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Cardiology, University Clinic for Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Monika Fürholz, Thomas Radtke, Jean-Paul Schmid, Hugo Saner & Matthias Wilhelm

  2. Division of Electrophysiology, University Clinic for Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Laurent Roten & Hildegard Tanner

  3. University Clinic for Anaesthesiology, Inselspital, University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Ilca Wilhelm

Authors
  1. Monika Fürholz
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  2. Thomas Radtke
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  3. Laurent Roten
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  4. Hildegard Tanner
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  5. Ilca Wilhelm
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  6. Jean-Paul Schmid
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  7. Hugo Saner
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  8. Matthias Wilhelm
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Wilhelm.

Additional information

Communicated by Keith Phillip George.

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Fürholz, M., Radtke, T., Roten, L. et al. Training-related modulations of the autonomic nervous system in endurance athletes: is female gender cardioprotective?. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 631–640 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2474-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2474-x

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