Transient endothelial dysfunction induced by sugar-sweetened beverage consumption may be attenuated by a single bout of aerobic exercise

Background: This study assessed whether aerobic exercise would attenuate microvascular endothelial dysfunction induced by commercial sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. Methods: Eleven healthy males participated in this randomized, single-blind crossover study. Cutaneous microvascular endothelial function was assessed using laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia before and after a)consumption of water; b) consumption of a commercial SSB; c) 30 min of aerobic exercise followed by water consumption; and d) 30 minutes of aerobic exercise followed by SSB consumption. Blood glucose and arterial pressure responses were also monitored. Volumes of water and SSB consumed (637.39 ± 29.15 mL) were individualized for each participant, ensuring SSB consumption delivered 1 g of sucrose per kg of body weight. Exercise was performed at 75% of the maximal oxygen uptake heart rate. Results: Compared to water consumption, the commercial SSB elevated blood glucose concentrations in both sedentary (4.69 ± 0.11 vs. 7.47 ± 0.28 mmol/L, P < 0.05) and exercised states (4.95 ± 0.13 vs. 7.93 ± 0.15 mmol/L, P < 0.05). However, the decrease in microvascular endothelial function observed following sedentary SSB consumption, expressed as the percentage increase from baseline (208.60 ± 22.40 vs. 179.83 ± 15.80%, P = 0.01) and the change in peak hyperemic blood flux from basal to post-intervention assessments (− 0.04 ± 0.03 vs. − 0.12 ± 0.02 ΔCVC, P = 0.01), was attenuated following 30 min of aerobic exercise. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide evidence that a single bout of aerobic exercise may prevent transient SSB-mediated microvascular endothelial dysfunction.