title: Effect of exercise and menstrual cycle status on plasma lipids, low density lipoprotein particle size, and apolipoproteins.
abstract: Habitual physical exercise has been reported to have beneficial effects on plasma lipoproteins. To examine this question in women, plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and B levels, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size were determined in 25 women runners (9 of whom had exercise-related secondary amenorrhea) and 36 age-matched nonexercising women (controls). The eumenorrheic runners had significantly lower apo B levels and significantly greater mean apo A-I/apo B ratios and LDL particle sizes than did the control women (P less than 0.05). Lower apo B levels were correlated with decreased body mass index, a known exercise effect (P less than 0.0001). In addition, normally menstruating runners had cholesterol and triglyceride levels that were 7.6% and 25.4% lower, respectively, and apo A-I levels that were 6.4% higher than control women (P = NS). In amenorrheic runners all parameters were similar to values in control women, except that apo B levels were 20% lower (P less than 0.05). Amenorrheic runners had lower plasma apo A-I levels (13%) and significantly lower apo A-I/apo B ratios and estradiol levels than eumenorrheic runners, and serum estradiol values in the runners were correlated with apo A-I levels (P less than 0.01). These data indicate that the beneficial effects of strenuous exercise on plasma apo A-I levels and apo A-I/apo B ratios in women runners can be reversed by exercise-induced amenorrhea and decreased serum estradiol levels, and that women runners have lower apo B levels than nonexercising women, regardless of menstrual status.
authors.affiliation: Lipid Metabolism Laboratory, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamon-Fava
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ordovas
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010316:Particle Size; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D004958:Estradiol