The relationships between Galectin-3 levels with cardiac structure and function in well- trained endurance athletes

Subject Areas : Journal of Physical Activity and Hormones

Ibrahim Radmehr ¹ ( Department of Exercise physiology, Marvdasht branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran )

Received: 2021-01-22 Accepted : 2021-01-22 Published : 2020-06-01

Keywords: Galectin-3, Cardiac structure, Cardiac function, Endurance-trained athletes,

Abstract :

Introduction: Clinical studies support a potential role of galectin-3 in the pathogenesis of remodelling in heart failure in humans; but these relationships in athletes are not well known. The present study was conducted to examine the relationships between galectin-3 levels with cardiac structure and function in well-trained endurance athletes. Material & Methods: Fifteen well-trained endurance male athletes (aged: 21.4 ± 3.0 years; mean ± SD) volunteered to participate in this study. Galectin-3 concentrations were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and cardiac morphology and function were assessed by echocardiography. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the relationship between the variables. Results: The results demonstrated that galectin-3 concentrations positively related to aorta diameter (r = 0.61, P = 0.01) and negatively related to left ventricle end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (r = ‒ 0.6, P = 0.01). No significant relationships were observed between galectin-3 concentrations with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) (r= ‒ 0.08, P = 0.7), pulmonary artery diameter (r = 0.25, P = 0.3), posterior wall thickness of left ventricle at end diastole (PWTLV) (r = 0.37, P = 0.1), interventricular septal (r = 0.15, P = 0.5), and left ventricle end-systolic volume (LVESV) (r = 0.48, P = 0.07). Conclusions: In conclusion, galectin-3 concentrations are associated with echocardiographic markers of ventricular function in endurance athletes.