The role of cardiorespiratory fitness on plasma lipid levels

Abstract

Dyslipidemia is a treatable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the importance of treatment for abnormalities in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Aside from pharmacotherapy, exercise and cardio-respiratory fitness have been shown to have beneficial effects on decreasing cardiovascular disease risk. Even though previous data regarding the benefits of exercise on plasma lipids have been somewhat conflicting, numerous studies have demonstrated that exercise increases HDL-cholesterol and reduces the triglyceride levels. Also, smaller, more atherogenic LDL particles seem to decrease with increases in cardio-respiratory fitness and exercise, and favorable blood lipid profiles seem to persist longer through the adult life span.

Keywords:

• cardiorespiratory fitness
• dyslipidemia
• exercise training
• high-density lipoprotein
• lipids
• low-density lipoprotein
• total cholesterol
• triglycerides

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Exercise training has not consistently shown benefits in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels.

• Increased exercise intensity is associated with increases in LDL particle size along with reductions in atherogenic small LDL particles.

• Exercise training results in small increases in HDL-cholesterol and decreases in triglycerides.

• Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with increased HDL particle size.

• Certain HDL sub-fractions increase in concentration with exercise.

• Increased intensity levels of aerobic exercise correlate with greater increases in HDL-cholesterol levels.

• Those with higher baseline triglyceride levels achieve greater reductions in response to increased CRF than those with lower baseline levels.

• The mechanisms by which exercise therapy and CRF affect blood lipids are not fully understood.

• Increased levels of CRF can delay the period of unfavorable lipids and lipoproteins throughout the adult life span.

Notes