Glycocalyx: the new link between exercise and disease

• Glycocalyx integrity is crucial for vascular health, and its shedding contributes to atherosclerosis and other diseases. • Exercise, including acute, aerobic, and resistance training, can influence glycocalyx thickness and shedding, with long-term training providing protective effects. • Glycocalyx damage markers may serve as diagnostic and prognostic tools for traumatic and vascular diseases. • The glycocalyx is a promising therapeutic target for non-pharmacological interventions in diseases like atherosclerosis, sepsis, and cancer.