Effects of resistive training on lipoprotein-lipid profiles: a comparison to aerobic exercise training.

A recent surge of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies dealing with resistive training and lipid profiles have produced conflicting results. The majority of cross-sectional studies demonstrate a reduced HDL cholesterol level or elevated total cholesterol to HDL ratio in strength trained athletes as compared with endurance trained athletes. Because of selection biases from many of these studies, there is a lack of control for factors that may influence lipids and lipoproteins, such as age, body composition, diet, and anabolic-androgenic steroid use. Most investigators have reported improved lipoprotein-lipid profiles from resistive training programs. However, many of these studies have design flaws or limitations that make their conclusions questionable. The most serious design flaws include the combination of no control group and only one blood sample taken before and after training, the use of subjects who have low risk profiles, and the lack of control for dietary effects. In a recent study in which we attempted to control for these factors, no changes in lipid profiles were observed after 20 wk of resistive training among individuals at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). A group serving as reference controls who participated in aerobic-type exercise training during the same time period reduced their plasma triglyceride levels but did not alter their cholesterol or lipoprotein levels. No changes in any lipids or lipoproteins were observed in a group of inactive controls. Thus, resistive training does not appear to alter lipoprotein-lipid profiles among individuals at risk for CHD.