Marathon medical success

Researchers found that healthy participants experienced reductions in blood pressure and aortic stiffness equivalent to a 3.9-year reduction in vascular age.

Adults with the hypertension and stiffer arteries may see greater cardiovascular benefits from tackling the 26.2 mile challenge, the authors believe.

Dr Charlotte Manisty, from Barts Heart Centre and University College London, said: “Our study shows it is possible to reverse the consequences of ageing on our blood vessels with real-world exercise in just six months. These benefits were observed in overall healthy individuals across a broad age range and their marathon times are suggestive of achievable exercise training in novice participants.”

Ageing in healthy adults leads to a gradual stiffening of the arteries and a higher cardiovascular risk.

The researchers analysed data from 138 healthy participants who took part in the 2016 and 2017 London marathons. They measured their blood pressure and arterial stiffness six months before the race when training commenced, and again within one to three weeks of the marathon being completed.

The average age of the runners was 37, and just under half were male.

Training decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4 and 3 mmHg, while aortic distensibility increased by nine per cent - the equivalent of an “almost four-year reduction in “aortic age”.

The participants were running no more than two hours per week and had no prior marathon experience.

The average running time was 5.4 hours for women and 4.5 hours for men.

“Greater rejuvenation” was seen in older, slower male marathon runners with higher baseline blood pressure, the study found.