Limb Blood Flow and Vascular Conductance Are Reduced With Age in Healthy Humans

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Abstract
Background —We tested the hypothesis that basal (resting) limb blood flow and vascular conductance are reduced with age in adult humans and that these changes are related to elevations in sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerve activity and reductions in limb oxygen demand. Methods and Results —Sixteen young (28±1 years; mean±SEM) and 15 older (63±1 years) healthy normotensive adult men were studied. Diastolic blood pressure and body fat were higher ( P P P P r =−0.55, P r =−0.65, P r =0.61, P P r =0.78, P Conclusions —(1) Basal whole-leg arterial blood flow and vascular conductance are reduced with age in healthy adult men; (2) these changes are associated with elevations in sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerve activity; and (3) the lower whole-limb blood flow is related to a lower oxygen demand that is independent of tissue mass.