Abstract

The effect of 10 weeks endurance training on the concentration of serum lipids and lipoproteins, particularly on the composition of high-density lipoproteins, was measured in nine 22-28-year-old male volunteers at weekly intervals during training as well as 5 and 10 weeks following the exercise program. A control group consisted of six male subjects between the ages of 22 and 37 years. After the end of the exercise program, all subjects showed a 20 25 decrease in free cholesterol as well as a 40 decrease in triglycerides while esterified cholesterol remained unchanged. Only in subjects with HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol ratios of less than 0.3 at the start of the exercise program was a statistically significant increase in HDL cholesterol values following training observed. In all subjects HDL phosphatidyl choline values were elevated by a mean of 20 at the end. With the exception of two participants, the HDL triglyceride concentration was diminished after the exercise program. In the control group, no statistically significant changes of the measured parameters could be observed. Our results suggest that shortterm physical training produces changes in cholesterol ersterification and/or cholesterol-ester transport as well as in HDL composition. Verf.-Referat (gekuerzt)