Physical activity and serum lipids and lipoproteins in elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between cardiorespiratory exercise and serum lipid and lipoprotein levels was studied in elderly women.


METHODS
Randomized controlled experimental design with a follow up of 12 weeks; cross-sectional comparison at baseline.


METHODS
Community-living elders in university exercise facilities.


METHODS
Thirty-two apparently healthy, sedentary elderly Caucasian women, 67 to 85 years of age. Ten highly conditioned elderly women, 65 to 84 years of age, who were active in endurance competitions and had been training for 11.2 +/- 1.2 years, were recruited at baseline for cross-sectional comparisons.


METHODS
Sedentary subjects were randomized to either a walking or calisthenic group. Intervention groups exercised 30 to 40 minutes, 5 days a week for 12 weeks, with the walking group training at 60% heart rate reserve and the calisthenic group engaging in mild range-of-motion and flexibility movements that kept their heart rates close to resting levels.


METHODS
Serum lipids and lipoproteins, maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max), four skinfolds, and dietary intake at baseline and after 5 and 12 weeks.


RESULTS
When the highly conditioned group and combined group of sedentary subjects were compared at baseline, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; 1.61 +/- 0.14 vs 1.27 +/- 0.05 mmol/L, respectively; P = 0.048) and triglycerides (1.29 +/- 0.15 vs 2.00 +/- 0.15, respectively; P = 0.002), but not total serum cholesterol (5.72 +/- 0.36 vs 5.72 +/- 0.19 mmol/L, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 3.62 +/- 0.36 vs 3.72 +/- 0.18 mmol/L, respectively), were significantly different. Twelve weeks of moderate cardiorespiratory exercise improved the VO2max of the sedentary subjects 12.6% but did not result in any change in body weight, energy intake, dietary quality, or any of the serum lipids or lipoproteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Highly conditioned and lean elderly women, when compared with their sedentary counterparts, had higher HDL-C and lower triglycerides, but similar total serum cholesterol and LDL-C values. However, twelve weeks of moderate cardiorespiratory exercise were not associated with an improvement in serum lipid or lipoprotein profiles in previously sedentary elderly women.
Nieman
D C
DC
Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608.
Warren
B J
BJ
O'Donnell
K A
KA
Dotson
R G
RG
Butterworth
D E
DE
Henson
D A
DA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol