Effects of low-intensity aerobic training on the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in healthy elderly subjects.
The concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is inversely correlated with the risk of coronary heart disease. The effects of low-intensity aerobic training on serum HDL-C and other lipoprotein concentrations were examined in healthy elderly subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups matched for sex, age, height, and weight. The training group (n = 20, 10 men and 10 women aged 67 +/- 4 years) participated in a supervised physical exercise regimen using a bicycle ergometer at an intensity of 50% estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for 60 minutes two to four times per week for 5 months. In contrast, the control group (n = 20, 10 men and 10 women aged 68 +/- 4 years) did not perform any particular physical training. The training protocol resulted in significant increases in the VO2max (P < .05), HDL-C, HDL2-C, and HDL2-C/HDL3-C ratio (P < .01). The change in HDL2-C (r = .57, P < .01) and HDL2-C/HDL3-C (r = .63, P < .01) was positively associated with an increase in the total exercise duration per week. In addition, the total weekly exercise duration also showed a significant positive relationship with HDL-C (r = .75, P < .01), HDL2-C (r = .81, P < .01), and HDL2-C/HDL3-C (r = .71, P < .01) after the training period. The changes in body weight and the VO2max were not significantly correlated with any lipid parameters. Low-intensity aerobic training may improve the profile of HDL-C and its subfractions in healthy elderly subjects. Also, the total exercise duration may be an important factor for improving HDL-C and HDL2-C in elderly subjects.
Sunami
Y
Y
Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Japan.
Motoyama
M
M
Kinoshita
F
F
Mizooka
Y
Y
Sueta
K
K
Matsunaga
A
A
Sasaki
J
J
Tanaka
H
H
Shindo
M
M
D000368:Aged; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL