Changes in plasma lipoproteins after cardiac rehabilitation in patients not on lipid-lowering drugs.
The extent to which a conventional cardiac rehabilitation programme can influence plasma lipoproteins was investigated in a prospective study. The relationship between changes in plasma lipoproteins and baseline characteristics, as well as variables related to the physical training and to dietary habits were assessed in 77 cardiac patients. All patients participated in a physical training programme, including general dietary advice. Patients who received lipid-lowering drugs were excluded from this study. Total plasma cholesterol decreased from 7.1 +/- 1.6 to 6.8 +/- 1.2 mmol l-1 (P less than 0.05), but it remained high in many patients, 61% having a level above 6.5 mmol l-1. The high- and low-density lipoprotein fractions (HDL- and LDL-cholesterol), and the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol, did not change significantly. The change in total plasma cholesterol was greatest (P less than 0.05) in patients who changed their diet in the recommended direction, and was poorly related to the change in maximal workload. It is concluded that a combination of general dietary advice and moderate physical exercise training is followed by a small reduction in total plasma cholesterol levels without changing HDL-cholesterol, and that cardiac rehabilitation should include strict programmes for the reduction of elevated plasma cholesterol.
Baardman
T
T
Rotterdam Foundation for Cardiac Rehabilitation, The Netherlands.
Fioretti
P
P
van Tol
A
A
Erdman
R A
RA
van Meurs-van Woezik
H
H
Kazemier
M
M
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011446:Prospective Studies
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol