Stroke survivors have compromised vascular function which may contribute to secondary stroke risk, cardiovascular disease, and may limit their exercise tolerance. Preliminary data shows a single bout of ischemic conditioning or oral ingestion of an over-the-counter antioxidant supplement called MitoQ may improve vascular function and muscle activity in individuals post-stroke.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
30
The cuff will be placed around the proximal, non-affected thigh and inflated for 5 minutes in a supine or semi-reclined position, then released for a 5-minute recovery period. Five cycles of inflation and recovery will be performed (45 minutes total).These inflations will be done using a cuff similar to what is used for taking blood pressure.
MitoQ is an over the counter supplement that increases delivery to the mitochondria. Similar to studies performed in middle age/older adults and individuals with peripheral arterial disease, we will administer 1 single oral dose of 80mg of MitoQ or a placebo pill. As MitoQ reaches peak concentrations at \~40 to 60 minutes after ingestion, we will wait 45 minutes (time matched to Ischemic conditioning).
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
RECRUITINGBrachial Artery Flow-Mediated Dilation
We will measure brachial artery vascular health in the non-paretic arm. Baseline brachial artery diameter and blood flow velocity through the artery will be measured before and after a pneumatic forearm cuff is inflated to 225 mmHg for five minutes.
Time frame: Change from BL to Post Intervention (5 hours)
Microvascular Vasodilation
Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) with Dermal Microdialysis (DM) will measure blood flow flux during microinfusions of study drugs (limited to an area on the skin approximately the size of a nickel) to examine endothelial dependent vasodilation (Acetylcholine, ACh) and nitric-oxide mediated vasodilation (ACH +/- LNAME, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor).
Time frame: Change from BL to Post Intervention (5 hours)
Muscle Tissue Oxygenation
We will also place a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) pad on the thenar eminence of the non-paretic hand to non-invasively measure tissue oxygenation via infrared light following the pneumatic forearm cuff inflation/deflation.
Time frame: Change from BL to Post Intervention (5 hours)
Blood Draw
We will collect blood before and after the intervention via an in-dwelling intravenous catheter. The blood draw analysis may include but will not be limited to examining complete blood counts, glucose levels, cholesterol, and plasma redox and bioenergetic analyses.
Time frame: Change from BL to Post Intervention (5 hours)
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