Effects of exercise on serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoprotein A-I, and lecithin:cholesterol acytransferase activity in young women

Effects of exercise on serum lipids and lipoproteins, and other risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) were assessed in minimally active young women. Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity were evaluated for their potential mechanistic roles. Subjects 18-30 years of age (n = 244) were analyzed cross-sectionally for correlations between risk factors for CHD including anthropometrics, fitness, previous physical activity, blood pressure, blood lipids, linearities cholesterol, apo A-I, and LCAT activity. A longitudinal analysis of the effects of one year of resistance exercise prescribed 3 times/wk with an aerospace component in a subset of 23 exercisers (EX) and 23 controls (CON) was performed. Parent groups were stratified for age and oral contraceptive (OC) use. All variables except LCAT activity were also assessed in a smaller subset (17 EX and 23 CON) who completed two years of the same study. OC use was adversely associated with the blood lipid profile. However, apo A-I was elevated in OC users. Adverse relationships were observed between abnormal body composition and blood lipids, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apo A-I dependent on OC status. Previous activity and potential mechanisms were not related to the blood lipid profile. Longitudinally, strength and lean body mass increased greatly in EX for both the one and two year analyses. After one year, a main effect of time was observed for increased HDL-C adjusted for albumin status. No other effects on lipid status were observed. Apo A-I was significantly greater in EX at 6, 12, and 24 months. LCAT activity decreased significantly in EX before adjusting for albumin but was not altered significantly compared to CON. Change in LCAT activity was positively correlated with change in strength after 1 year. Change in strength was negatively related to change in blood cholesterol. No associations between changes in LCAT activity and blood lipids were observed; however, an unexpected positive correlation between change in apo A-I and LDL-C and TC was detected. Overall, this study showed only modest benefits in the blood lipid profile which were not strongly associated with a response in LCAT or apo A-I