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Effects of different intensity endurance training on atrial fibrillation in rats.

Xiao J, Zhang Y, Yang C, Li C, Jiang Y, Lai X et al. ยท Molecular and cellular biochemistry ยท 2026

Researchers had 40 male rats do endurance training at different intensities for 8 weeks, then measured how easily atrial fibrillation could be triggered along with heart tissue changes. Higher exercise intensity was linked to more atrial fibrillation, more myocardial fibrosis and lipid deposition, plus changes in mitochondrial activity, autophagy, reactive oxygen species and ion-channel proteins; the authors concluded sustained moderate-intensity exercise was best for heart energy metabolism and atrial rhythm.
Takeaway: Favor sustained moderate-intensity endurance work over relentless high-intensity training if heart-rhythm health is a concern, keeping in mind this was a rat study.
Abstract (source)

Exercise has a positive effect on various cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not uncommon to experience arrhythmia events during or after exercising. To determine how to maximize the benefits of exercise while ensuring safety. We conducted a study involving 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. These rats underwent exercise of different intensities for 8 weeks. We recorded electrophysiological stimulation to track the occurrence and duration of atrial fibrillation and other electrophysiological data. Additionally, we analyzed and observed the histology of cardiomyocytes. The

Results: revealed a relationship between exercise intensity and the incidence of atrial fibrillation and myocardial lipid deposition. As exercise intensity increased, there was an increase in myocardial fibrosis, mitochondrial activity, and autophagy and a decrease in reactive oxygen species. The expression of Na/Ca Exchanger (NCX1) and Kv1.5 proteins in rat atrial cardiomyocytes exhibited varying degrees of change. The increase in myocardial lipid level after exercise is thought to significantly affect myocardial fibrosis, which may be related to the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha expression. Sustained and moderate-intensity exercise is more suitable for improving myocardial metabolic energy supply and treating atrial arrhythmias.

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