The effect of physical activity on serum lipids, lipoprotein, and apolipoproteins

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure apolipoprotein-A1 and apolipoprotein-B serum concentrations during a physical activity program. Serum apolipoprotein concentrations may be a more sensitive indicator of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk than total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins. Design: Thirty-seven sedentary, healthy adult males were randomly allocated to an exercise group (n=20) who underwent 12 weeks of aerobic physical activity or a sedentary group (n=17) who acted as non- exercising controls. Results: The exercise group increased their aerobic capacity (from 33±4 mL kg-1 min-1 to 40±4 mL kg-1 min-1) but the sedentary group did not. The percentage of body fat decreased in the exercise group (from 21.8% to 19.5%) but remained unchanged in the sedentary group. Serum cholesterol, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations did not change but serum triglyceride concentrations were reduced in the exercise group (from 1.8±1.3 mmol L-1 to 1.2±0.4 mmol L-1, p<0.05). The Apo-A1:Apo-B ratio increased in the exercise group (from 1.17±0.22 to 1.4±0.27, p<0.05) but not in the sedentary group. Conclusion: Apolipoprotein concentrations in sedentary males are no more sensitive than other serum lipid concentrations but are appropriate for monitoring CHD risk-factor change during short-term light exercise interventions.