Increased plasma HDL‐cholesterol and apo A‐1 in sedentary middle‐aged men after physical conditioning

Abstract

An inverse relationship was demonstrated between plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol and coronary heart disease risk. The effect of a moderate physical conditioning was investigated on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, especially HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), the major apoprotein of HDL. Healthy, sedentary, middle-aged men were randomly selected and assigned to a training group (no. = 24, age 40 .+-. 3.4 yr, mean .+-. SD) or to a control group (no. = 13, age 39 .+-. 5.0 yr). Training consisted of various indoor and outdoor sports activities 45 min/day, 3 times/wk for 12 wk at an intensity of .apprx. 80% of measured maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max). The trained subjects were studied at 4, 8 and 12 wk. The training increased VO2 max by 12% (P < 0.01). Increases were observed in apo A-I (10%, P < 0.02) and HDL-choleserol (8%, P < 0.02) after training, with significant increases already after 4 and 8 wk, respectively. Decreases in total plasma choleseterol (5%, P < 0.004) and plasma triglycerides (26%, P < 0.003) were found without changes in body weight, body composition, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption or the percentage composition of dietary intake. Fasting serum-insulin concentrations decreased significantly during training. No changes were noted in the control group. Moderate physical training apparently can increase HDL.