Exercise and Lipids

Regular exercise may indirectly benefit the heart by favorably modifying lipid and lipoprote in levels. Exercise training can decrease total blood cholesterol, serum triglycerides and, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and can increase antiatherogenic high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Aerobic exercise not only quantitatively induces changes in lipoprotein concentrations but also induces favorable changes in lipoprotein subclasses. Exercise causes a shift from atherogenic LDL phenotype B to LDL phenotype A and increases cardioprotective HDLı cholesterol concentrations. Exercise training al so improves apo A 1, apo A 1 apo B ratio and lipoprotein (a) levels significantly. The mechanisms by which exercise may improve the lipid profile remain uncertain. However, exerciseinduced lipolytic enzyme activity that promotes the degradation of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins appears to be a factor.