ApoB but not LDL-cholesterol is reduced by exercise training in overweight healthy men. Results from the 1-year randomized Oslo Diet and Exercise Study.
OBJECTIVE
(i) To estimate changes in apoB and apoB/apoA-I, reflecting the balance between atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipoprotein particles, by exercise training and compare with changes in LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio, and (ii) To compare strengths of relationships between physical fitness and various lipoprotein variables.


METHODS
The study was a 1-year open randomized trial comprising 219 healthy middle-aged subjects aged 40-49 years who were allocated to exercise or no exercise, dietary advice or no advice in a 2 x 2 factorial design. This study includes 188 men who completed the trial, 45 to diet, 48 to exercise, 58 to diet + exercise and 37 to control.


METHODS
Exercise; supervised endurance exercise three times a week. Diet; reduce weight, increase intake of fish and reduce total fat intake.


METHODS
One-year change in apoB and apoB/apoA-I ratio.


RESULTS
Exercisers decreased their ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-I values significantly compared to non-exercisers. LDL-C was not, but LDL-C/HDL-C was marginally but statistically significantly reduced by exercise. One-year change in ApoB and ApoB/ApoA-I correlated more strongly to 1-year changes in physical fitness than LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C. Adjusting for changes in LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C did not influence the correlation between changes in fitness and ApoB or ApoB/ApoA-I. However, adjusting for changes in ApoB or ApoB/ApoA-I wiped out the correlation between change in fitness and LDL-C or LDL-C/HDL-C. Relationships weakened when adjusting for changes in waist circumference, but Apo B or ApoB/ApoA-I still correlated significantly to changes in fitness.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical exercise reduced the atherogenic burden as experienced by the reduction in apoB or apoB/apoA-I levels, but not by LDL-C in healthy middle-aged men. Possibly, regular physical activity might increase the LDL-C particle size, thereby making LDL less atherogenic. Monitoring of apolipoproteins rather than the cholesterol moiety of lipoproteins might improve the assessment of lipoprotein changes after exercise training.
Holme
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Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, Norway. Ingar.Holme@nih.no
Høstmark
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Anderssen
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SA
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL