The effect of endurance exercise training on plasma lipoprotein AI and lipoprotein AI:AII concentrations in sedentary adults

The effect of 6 months of endurance exercise training on plasma concentrations of lipoprotein (Lp)AI and LpAI:All was determined in 39 sedentary subjects (17 men, 22 women, average age, 57 years) with abnormal cholesterol concentrations (total cholesterol [TC] > 200 mg/dL, or high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C] < 35 mg/dL). Following exercise training, plasma LpAI concentrations increased (+5.9 +/- 1.2 mg/dL; P < .001), but there was no change in total apolipoprotein (apo) A-I or LpAI:All concentrations. The change in plasma LpAI concentration was positively correlated to changes in total HDL-C (r = .495, P = .001), the sum of HDL4-C-nmr + HDL5-C-nmr (r = .417, P = .008), and average HDL particle size (r = .415, P = .009), but not to changes in body composition or V)o(2)max. In the 8 subjects with the greatest change in LpAI concentration following training, the size distribution of LpAI and LpAI:AII particles in plasma also was measured before and after training. In these subjects, the size distribution of LpAI:All particles did not change with training, but there was a significant increase (0.1 nm; P = .048) in the peak size of the "medium" (7.8 to 9.8 nm) LpAI particles after training. In 7 subjects who served as age- and weight-matched sedentary controls, plasma concentrations of total apo A-I, the LpAI and LpAI:AII subfractions, and plasma lipoprotein-lipids did not differ significantly between baseline and final testing. These data indicate that endurance exercise training increases the average size and plasma concentrations of LpAI, but not LpAI:All, particles, which may represent possible enhancements of reverse cholesterol transport and may provide insight into the role that exercise plays in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.