title: Cross-sectional associations between physical activity and selected coronary heart disease risk factors in young adults. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical activity (PA) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by inducing beneficial changes in several risk factors. We studied the associations between PA and a range of risk markers of CHD in young adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured serum lipoproteins, oxidized LDL, adipokines, inflammatory markers, metabolic markers, and arginine metabolites in 2,268 individuals (age 24-39 y). Participants were asked frequency, duration, and intensity of PA in leisure time. In addition, commuting to work was assessed. In both sexes, PA was inversely associated with waist circumference (all P < 0.0001). After controlling for sex, age, and waist circumference, PA was directly associated with HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, and inversely with heart rate, smoking, oxidized LDL, apolipoprotein B, insulin, glucose, C-reactive protein, leptin, L-arginine, and phospholipase A2 activity (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These population-based data are consistent with the idea that the beneficial effects of PA on CHD risk are mediated by favorable influences on several risk factors, as judged by independent relations to markers of lipoprotein metabolism, glucose metabolism, and inflammation. These associations reflect beneficial effects on cardiovascular health in both sexes and may offer mechanistic insights for the inverse association between PA and CHD.
authors: The Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Kristiina
authors: K
authors: Mansikkaniemi
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Juonala
authors: Simo
authors: S
authors: Taimela
authors: Mirja
authors: M
authors: Hirvensalo
authors: Risto
authors: R
authors: Telama
authors: Risto
authors: R
authors: Huupponen
authors: Liisa
authors: L
authors: Saarikoski
authors: Mikko
authors: M
authors: Hurme
authors: Ziad
authors: Z
authors: Mallat
authors: Joelle
authors: J
authors: Benessiano
authors: Antti
authors: A
authors: Jula
authors: Leena
authors: L
authors: Taittonen
authors: Jukka
authors: J
authors: Marniemi
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Kähönen
authors: Terho
authors: T
authors: Lehtimäki
authors: Tapani
authors: T
authors: Rönnemaa
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Viikari
authors: Olli T
authors: OT
authors: Raitakari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol