The aim of the study was to analyse the effects of aerobic exercise and fat-modified diet on plasma factor VII activity (FVIIc), factor X activity (FX), antithrombin III (ATIII), fibrinogen, tissue type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 antigen (PAI-1) and apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)). Normolipidemic men (n=119) aged 51 to 53 years were chosen from a representative population sample and randomly assigned to control, exercise 2 (EXE2), 4 (EXE4) or 6 (EXE6) times a week, diet or combined diet and exercise (4 times a week, DEXE4) groups. Training intensity was individually prescribed with training heart rate around the aerobic threshold. The training program consisted of aerobic exercise plus stretching. Dietary counseling was aimed at decreasing saturated, and increasing unsaturated fatty acid intake. The duration of the intervention was 6 months. Blood sampling took place one week after stopping the exercise program, whereas diet continued until blood donation. Self-reported physical activity increased significantly in EXE4, EXE6 and in DEXE4 groups compared to the reference group. Saturated fat intake decreased in the diet and DEXE4 groups, whereas unsaturated fat intake increased only in the diet group. There were no statistically significant differences between experimental and reference groups in any coagulation factors during the study. The present data suggest that the responses of thrombogenic and fibrinolytic factors to aerobic exercise, if any, are a temporary phenomenon in clinically healthy men of normal body weight. Modest decrease in saturated and/or increase in unsaturated fat intake do not seem to modify these factors either alone or in combination with physical exercise.
