Changes in lipids associated with change in regular exercise in free-living men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between regular exercise and plasma lipid profiles in free-living men.


METHODS
Seven hundred eighty men between the ages of 25 and 65 years were included in this study. The medical history, physical examination, and blood tests were obtained at baseline and 1 year later. At the end of the study, 430 (55.1%) men reported the same amount of regular exercise as a year earlier; 199 (25.5%) men reported an increased level, and 151 (19.4%) men reported a decreased level.


RESULTS
Compared to the group with same exercise, men who increased their level of regular exercise had a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) (mean 4.76 versus 2.83 mg/dL, p < 0.005) and significant decreases in the ratio of total cholesterol/HDLC (mean -0.72 versus -0.42, p < 0.001) and triglycerides (mean -18.2 versus -6.27 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The changes in lipid profiles appeared to have a dose-response relationship from the increased exercise, same exercise, to decreased exercise groups. Overweight and normal-weight men had a similar tendency to improve their lipid profiles by exercise. The improvement in plasma lipid profile associated with increased regular exercise persisted after controlling for potential confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the relationship between physical activity and favorable lipid profiles exists in men with mild-to-moderate physical activity.
Wei
M
M
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio 78284-2873, USA.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol