title: Effect of plant sterols and endurance training on LDL particle size and distribution in previously sedentary hypercholesterolemic adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant sterols and exercise favourably alter lipid profiles in a way that protect against future coronary heart disease (CHD). However, their effects on other indicators of CHD risk, such as LDL particle size, still need further clarification.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effect of plant sterols, exercise, and the combination of plant sterols and exercise, on LDL particle size and distribution in previously sedentary, hypercholesterolemic adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an 8-week, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial, 84 subjects were randomized to one of four intervention groups: (1) combination of sterols and exercise, (2) exercise, (3) sterol, or (4) control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise significantly (P < 0.05) reduced post-treatment LDL peak particle size from 255 to 253 A. Additionally, exercise significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the proportion of large LDL particles within plasma. Sterol supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the estimated cholesterol concentrations within small, medium, and large LDL particles by 13.4, 13.5, and 14.4%, respectively, yet had no effect on the distribution of cholesterol among various LDL particle sizes. Furthermore, decreased body weight post-training was associated with increased cholesterol in small LDL particles (r = -0.52, P < 0.0001). Decrease in body fat percent (BF%) post-training was associated with increased cholesterol concentrations in small LDL particles (r = -0.29, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of modulating LDL electrophoretic characteristics, the present study demonstrates that plant sterols have no effect on CHD risk, while short-term exercise may potentially increase CHD risk by decreasing LDL peak particle size.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study was sponsored by The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, Canada H9X 3V9.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Varady
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: St-Pierre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
authors.forename: P J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D010840:Phytosterols