The effects of moderate aerobic and strength exercises on serum lipoprotein-lipid profiles in previously sedentary women

Thirty-five untrained middle-aged females were studied to determine the effects of 20 wk of brisk walking and strength training on lipoprotein-lipid profiles. The subjects were assigned to walking (N=13), strength training (N=12), and control (N=10) groups for this study. The subjects of walking group walked from 2.4 to 5.0 km with the walking paces from 90 to 120 m/min, 3 times a week on a tartan-surfaced 400m track. The subjects of the strength training group participated in Nautilus training programs consising of 10 different exercises. The walkers showed a 6% increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and consequently 17.5% decrease in the total cholesterol (T-C)/HDL-C ratio (from 3.63 to 3.36) which is considered as the most practical means of assessing an individual\u27s coronary heart disease risk. The walkers also significantly decreased their triglyceride levels. No significant changes were observed in T-C, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). On the other hand, there were no significant changes in serum concentrations of triglyceride, T-C, and HDL-C or HDL-C in the subjects of strength training as well as in controls. A20% increase in Vo_2max was observed in the subjects of walking group while no increase was presented in those of strength training group. However, those of strength training increased the muscualr strength by 15% for lower body and 23% for upper body. A significnt reduction of body weight and %body fat was seen among the walkers, but not among the weight trainers. Thus, we can conclude that brisk walking is sufficient for middle aged women to obtain meaningful improvements in their lipoprotein profiles and cardiorespiratory fitness. However, strength training is not applicable to obtain favorable changes in the cardiovascualr risk profiles