EFFECTS OF ACUTE EXERCISE INTENSITY ON PLASMA-LIPIDS AND APOLIPOPROTEINS IN TRAINED RUNNERS

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise intensity on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subfractions (HDL2-C and HDL3-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and B were measured. Ten well-trained runners completed treadmill exercise on two different occasions: a high-intensity session at 75% maximal oxygen consumption lasting 60 min and a low-intensity session at 50% maximal oxygen consumption lasting 90 min. Energy expenditure for each session was equal. Fasted blood samples were obtained 24 h before, immediately before, immediately after, and 1, 24, 48, and 72 h after each exercise session. No significant differences were found for the blood variables across time or between treatments. However, HDL-C and HDL2-C were slightly elevated on the days after each treatment. These results suggest that acute exercise sessions lasting < 90 min, regardless of intensity, do not elicit plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein changes in men who are habitually physically active and have high initial concentrations of HDL-C.