The MuCAYA Study-Influence of Physical Activity and Metabolic Parameters on the Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular System in Young Athletes

Overview

Journal CJC Open

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2024 Dec 30

PMID 39735949

Authors

Jonas Haferanke

Lisa Baumgartner

Laura Willinger

Thorsten Schulz

Frauke Muhlbauer

Tobias Engl

Heidi Weberruss

Hande Hofmann

Paulina Wasserfurth

Karsten Kohler

Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Exercise has a significant impact on the cardiovascular (CV) health of children and adolescents, with resultant alterations in CV structure and function being evident, even at an early age. Engagement in regular, moderate physical activity (PA) is associated with long-term CV health benefits and a reduced risk of CV disease and mortality later in life. However, competitive sports often involve PA training intensities that are beyond recommended levels for young athletes, potentially leading to adverse CV outcomes. This situation emphasizes the importance of early monitoring of CV status, to prevent detrimental adaptations to intense physical exercise. The Munich Cardiovascular Adaptations in Young Athletes Study (MuCAYA; NCT06259617) aims to investigate the as-yet-unclear adaptations to intense exercise that occur in young athletes. The study focuses on various factors, including CV health, PA, cardiopulmonary performance, body composition, eating habits, and biochemical markers. In this longitudinal, prospective study, a sample of 250 young competitive athletes (aged 10-17 years) will undergo yearly examinations at the Institute of Preventive Pediatrics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), over the span of 3 years. The testing protocol includes the following: anthropometric measurements; basic medical examinations; electrocardiography, with blood-pressure and pulse-wave analysis; echocardiography; sonography of the carotid artery; blood sampling for laboratory analysis; cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a bicycle ergometer; and participant completion of questionnaires regarding PA (the Motorik-Modul Longitudinal Study PA Questionnaire [MoMo-PAQ]) and nutrition. Areas that are not yet fully understood are how exercise influences cardiac and vascular remodeling during long-term exercise, and how different biochemical and metabolic parameters, body composition, and nutrition impact such adaptations. The MuCAYA study seeks to address these gaps in knowledge and provide comprehensive evidence on the longitudinal effects of exercise on the CV system of young athletes.

Citing Articles

Molecular Mechanisms of Vascular Tone in Exercising Pediatric Populations: A Comprehensive Overview on Endothelial, Antioxidative, Metabolic and Lipoprotein Signaling Molecules.

Haferanke J, Baumgartner L, Willinger L, Oberhoffer-Fritz R, Schulz T Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(3).

PMID: 39940797 PMC: 11817131. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26031027.

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