Caterina Ursella, Giovanni Baldassarre, Lucrezia Zuccarelli, Federica Caponnetto, Francesco Curcio, Mattia D'Alleva, Maria De Martino, Elisabetta Fontanini, Andrea Palomba, Antonio Paolo Beltrami, Federico Formenti, Bruno Grassi
{"title":"Commuting by bicycle (vs. by car) is associated with improved aerobic power, microvascular function and diminished CO<sub>2</sub> output in the atmosphere.","authors":"Caterina Ursella, Giovanni Baldassarre, Lucrezia Zuccarelli, Federica Caponnetto, Francesco Curcio, Mattia D'Alleva, Maria De Martino, Elisabetta Fontanini, Andrea Palomba, Antonio Paolo Beltrami, Federico Formenti, Bruno Grassi","doi":"10.1113/EP092636","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study investigated whether bicycle compared with car commuting, over relatively small distances, has positive effects on physiological variables, cardiometabolic fitness and CO<sub>2</sub> output in the atmosphere. Bike Commuters (11 M, 15 F; age [median value (interquartile range)] 51.5 (38.3-56.8) years; body mass index [BMI] 22.8 (21.0-24.1) kg m<sup>-2</sup>) were compared with Car Commuters (12 M, 19 F; age 47.0 (36.0-56.5) years; BMI 23.5 (21.4-24.9) kg m<sup>-2</sup>). In a longitudinal arm of the study, 20 Car Commuters were re-evaluated after they switched for 24 weeks to bicycle commuting (Car→Bike Commuters). Measurements included peak aerobic power ( <math> <semantics> <msub><mover><mi>V</mi> <mo>̇</mo></mover> <mrow><msub><mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn></msub> <mi>peak</mi></mrow> </msub> <annotation>${\\dot V_{{{\\mathrm{O}}_2}{\\mathrm{peak}}}}$</annotation></semantics> </math> ) and ventilatory thresholds on a cycle ergometer, blood flow increase in the common femoral artery during a passive leg movement (PLM) test, energy expenditure and <math> <semantics> <msub><mover><mi>V</mi> <mo>̇</mo></mover> <mrow><mi>C</mi> <msub><mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn></msub> </mrow> </msub> <annotation>${\\dot V_{{\\mathrm{C}}{{\\mathrm{O}}_2}}}$</annotation></semantics> </math> exhaled during commuting. Bike Commuters had higher <math> <semantics> <msub><mover><mi>V</mi> <mo>̇</mo></mover> <mrow><msub><mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn></msub> <mi>peak</mi></mrow> </msub> <annotation>${\\dot V_{{{\\mathrm{O}}_2}{\\mathrm{peak}}}}$</annotation></semantics> </math> (33.7 (31.3-38.1) versus 25.3 (23.5-28.9) mL kg<sup>-1</sup> min<sup>-1</sup>, P < 0.001) and ventilatory thresholds than Car Commuters, higher Δpeak blood flow (+25%, P = 0.04) and area under the blood flow versus time curve (+46%, P = 0.03) during PLM, and an enhanced skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism. <math> <semantics> <msub><mover><mi>V</mi> <mo>̇</mo></mover> <mrow><msub><mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn></msub> <mi>peak</mi></mrow> </msub> <annotation>${\\dot V_{{{\\mathrm{O}}_2}{\\mathrm{peak}}}}$</annotation></semantics> </math> and PLM variables increased in Car→Bike Commuters. Metabolic CO<sub>2</sub> output during bicycle commuting was ∼12 times less than that for a petrol car. In moderately active individuals, short-distance bicycle commuting at moderate intensity was associated, compared with car commuting, with positive effects on several physiological functions and environmental factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12092,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Physiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Experimental Physiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1113/EP092636","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PHYSIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The study investigated whether bicycle compared with car commuting, over relatively small distances, has positive effects on physiological variables, cardiometabolic fitness and CO2 output in the atmosphere. Bike Commuters (11 M, 15 F; age [median value (interquartile range)] 51.5 (38.3-56.8) years; body mass index [BMI] 22.8 (21.0-24.1) kg m-2) were compared with Car Commuters (12 M, 19 F; age 47.0 (36.0-56.5) years; BMI 23.5 (21.4-24.9) kg m-2). In a longitudinal arm of the study, 20 Car Commuters were re-evaluated after they switched for 24 weeks to bicycle commuting (Car→Bike Commuters). Measurements included peak aerobic power ( ) and ventilatory thresholds on a cycle ergometer, blood flow increase in the common femoral artery during a passive leg movement (PLM) test, energy expenditure and exhaled during commuting. Bike Commuters had higher (33.7 (31.3-38.1) versus 25.3 (23.5-28.9) mL kg-1 min-1, P < 0.001) and ventilatory thresholds than Car Commuters, higher Δpeak blood flow (+25%, P = 0.04) and area under the blood flow versus time curve (+46%, P = 0.03) during PLM, and an enhanced skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism. and PLM variables increased in Car→Bike Commuters. Metabolic CO2 output during bicycle commuting was ∼12 times less than that for a petrol car. In moderately active individuals, short-distance bicycle commuting at moderate intensity was associated, compared with car commuting, with positive effects on several physiological functions and environmental factors.
期刊介绍:
Experimental Physiology publishes research papers that report novel insights into homeostatic and adaptive responses in health, as well as those that further our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in disease. We encourage papers that embrace the journal’s orientation of translation and integration, including studies of the adaptive responses to exercise, acute and chronic environmental stressors, growth and aging, and diseases where integrative homeostatic mechanisms play a key role in the response to and evolution of the disease process. Examples of such diseases include hypertension, heart failure, hypoxic lung disease, endocrine and neurological disorders. We are also keen to publish research that has a translational aspect or clinical application. Comparative physiology work that can be applied to aid the understanding human physiology is also encouraged.
Manuscripts that report the use of bioinformatic, genomic, molecular, proteomic and cellular techniques to provide novel insights into integrative physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms are welcomed.