Effect of physical exercise on lipid metabolism in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of regular physical exercise on plasma lipids and apoproteins in an elderly group.


METHODS
Sixty-three old people of both sexes, aged between 65 and 94, were randomly distributed between a test group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 32). The test group followed a program of physical exercise for eight months, with intensity of 60% to 80% of heart rate reserve, consisting of three weekly sessions, on alternate days, of 60 minutes each. Before the beginning of the program and eight months afterwards, blood samples were collected to assess total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, HDL2-C. HDL3-C, apo A1, apo B-100 and apo (a). The ratios total cholesterol/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, HDL2-C/HDL3-C and apo A1/apo B-100 were also calculated.


RESULTS
In the test group total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, apo B-100, total cholesterol/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C decreased significantly; HDL-C, HDL2-C, apo A1, HDL2-C/HDL3-C and apo A1/apo B-100 increased significantly; HDL3-C and apo (a) did not change. The control group did not present any significant alterations in any of the parameters assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular physical exercise decreases vascular risk and may help to reduce cardiovascular events in the elderly.
Veríssimo
Manuel Teixeira
MT
Serviço de Medicina I dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra. rjv@esoterica.pt
Aragão
António
A
Sousa
Ana
A
Barbosa
Benilde
B
Ribeiro
Helena
H
Costa
Dário
D
Saldanha
Maria Helena
MH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol