Heterogeneity of Vascular Adaptations to Exercise With Aging in Women and Men

Inclusion Criteria:

* Ability to provide consent;
* Man or woman \>= 18 years;
* Willing to be randomized to an exercise or control intervention;
* No orthopedic limitations that would prevent the volunteer from performing treadmill or cycling exercise;
* No use of hormone therapy in postmenopausal women or in men (note, hormonal contraceptives in premenopausal women will be allowed);
* Healthy, as determined by medical history, physical examination, standard blood chemistries and ECG at rest and during a physician monitored graded exercise treadmill test;
* Sedentary or recreationally active (\<2 days/wk vigorous activity);
* No use of medications that might influence cardiovascular function (e.g., blood pressure and lipid lowering medications, metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, etc.);
* No use of vitamins, supplements or anti-inflammatory medications, or willing to stop 1 month prior to enrollment and for the duration of the study;

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindications to aerobic exercise;
* Diabetic or fasted glucose \>126 mg/dL;
* Resting blood pressure \>= 140/90 mmHg;
* Current or past history of cancer other than skin cancer;
* Preexisting or active cardiac, renal or hepatic disease;
* History of stomach ulcer or bleeding or epilepsy or nervous system and/or seizure disorder;
* Active or chronic infection;
* An abnormal resting ECG, angina and/or ECG evidence of acute myocardial ischemia during the exercise test (development of ST-segment depression of more than 0.3 mV that is either horizontal, downsloping, or slowly upsloping- less than 1 mvolt/sec and lasts more than 0.08 sec; ST elevation; chest pain or discomfort), bundle branch block, AV block greater than first degree, arrhythmias;
* Thyroid dysfunction, defined as ultrasensitive TSH \<0.5 or \>5 mU/L. Participants with abnormal TSH values will be reconsidered for participation after follow-up with their PCP and initiation of thyroid replacement medications for at least 3 months;
* Smoking or tobacco use;
* Alcohol consumption \> 14 drinks/week;
* Body mass index \> 39kg/m2;