title: Skeletal muscle fiber distribution influences serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level.
abstract: Earlier we have shown a significant positive association between muscle fiber distribution, i.e. percentage of slow-twitch (ST) fibers in the vastus lateralis muscle, and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. This association may be due to the fact that ST fibers have a high capacity for oxidative energy metabolism and a high number of surrounding capillaries. These fibers have a high capacity to metabolize fatty acids liberated by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) from triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. This in turn elevates serum HDL-C levels. Thus, a high percentage of ST fibers (ST-%) may be one factor having a beneficial effect on serum HDL-C concentration. A high ST-% may also increase the likelihood that a person will become involved in an endurance type of physical activity, which further increases serum HDL-C concentration by increasing further LPL activity in the capillary bed of skeletal muscle. In this paper we present a hypothetical background of the role that ST fibers may have on serum lipid and lipoprotein profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Näveri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Härkönen
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase