title: Good aerobic or muscular fitness protects overweight men from elevated oxidized LDL.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is associated with lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated the association between ox-LDL and overweight/obesity and how cardiorespiratory or muscle fitness affects this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy young (mean age = 25.1 yr, range = 18-48 yr) men (n = 831) were divided into normal-weight (n = 486), overweight (n = 269), and obese (n = 76) groups according to their body mass index (BMI). The participants underwent physical fitness tests (maximal oxygen uptake with bicycle ergometer and muscle fitness index using series of muscle endurance tests), a general health examination including determination of lipid profile, and a detailed questionnaire. Subjects were further divided into six subgroups according to BMI (normal vs overweight) and physical fitness (fitness tertiles: unfit, average, fit). Age and smoking were used in the statistical analysis as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In overweight and obese participants, the concentrations of ox-LDL (14%/32%) and the ratio of ox-LDL/HDL cholesterol (32%/68%) were higher compared with subjects with normal weight (P < 0.005, in all). In BMI and cardiovascular fitness subgroups, ox-LDL (23%, P < 0.0001) and the ox-LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (45%, P < 0.0001) were higher in the overweight/unfit subgroup when compared with the normal-weight/unfit subgroup, whereas no differences were observed between the overweight/fit and normal-weight/fit subjects. Among the BMI and muscle fitness subgroups, ox-LDL (24%, P < 0.0001) and the ox-LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (51%, P < 0.0001) were higher in the overweight/unfit group compared with the normal-weight/unfit group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity are associated with ox-LDL lipids and serum conventional lipids. However, both good cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness seem to protect overweight subjects from the atherogenic lipid profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise, Paavo Nurmi Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kosola
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahotupa
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kyröläinen
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santtila
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vasankari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein