The effect of exercise on endothelial function and cardiovascular disease risk markers in South Asians and white Europeans

People of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Bhutanese,and Burmese heritage are collectively called South Asians (SAs). South Asians contribute the highest proportion of the global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden compared with other ethnic groups. Consequently, SA ethnicity has been identified as an independent risk factor for CVD. Underpinning this is an adverse metabolic and inflammatory profile in SAs compared with other ethnic groups, and this is thought to be a consequence of an interaction between genetic susceptibility and a global shift to Westernised lifestyles. Therefore, SAs have been shown to have a higher prevalence of central obesity, dyslipidaemia, and endothelial dysfunction, contributing to higher diabetes and CVD rates compared to white Europeans (WEs). Considering SAs form over 25% of the global population and 5% of the population in the United Kingdom, SAs are of interest from a health perspective. [Continues.]