Diastolic Dysfunction and Intraventricular Dyssynchrony Are Restored by Low Intensity Exercise Training in Obese Men

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a low-intensity training program on subclinical cardiac dysfunction and on dyssynchrony in moderately obese middle aged men. Ten obese and 14 age-matched normal-weight men (BMI: 33.6 +/- 1.0 and 24.2 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2)) were included. Obese men participated in an 8-week low-intensity training program without concomitant diet. Cardiac function and myocardial synchrony were assessed by echocardiography with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). At baseline, obese men showed diastolic dysfunction on standard echocardiography, lower strain values (systolic strain: 15.9 +/- 0.9 vs. 18.8 +/- 0.3%, diastolic strain rate: 0.81 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.05 +/- 0.06 s(-1)), and significant intraventricular dyssynchrony (systolic: 13.3 +/- 2.1 vs. 5.4 +/- 2.1 ms, diastolic: 17.4 +/- 3.2 vs. 9.1 +/- 2.1 ms) (P < 0.05 vs. controls for all variables). Training improved aerobic fitness, decreased systolic blood pressure and heart rate, and reduced fat mass without weight loss. Diastolic function, strain values (systolic strain: 17.4 +/- 0.9%, diastolic strain rate: 0.96 +/- 0.12 s(-1)) and intraventricular dyssynchrony (systolic: 3.3 +/- 1.7 ms, diastolic: 5.5 +/- 3.4 ms) improved significantly after training (P < 0.05 vs. baseline values for all variables), reaching levels similar to those of normal-weight men. In conclusion, in obese men, a short and easy-to-perform low intensity training program restored diastolic function and cardiac synchrony and improved body composition without weight loss.