The relationship between physical activity and serum lipids and lipoproteins in black children and adolescents.

This study assesses the association between the serum lipid and lipoprotein levels of 62 black children and 37 black adolescents and their reported levels of habitual physical activity, 24-hour dietary intake, and physical measurements. In the children physical activity was not correlated with serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. Indicators of physical activity had a positive correlation (P less than 0.02) with high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and negative correlations (P less than 0.05) with the total serum cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratios in the adolescents. Subjects were stratified into "low activity" and "high activity" groups. High-activity subjects had lower (P less than 0.05) total serum cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratios than less active subjects. Subjects that ran track had lower (P less than 0.02) total serum cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol than non-track participants. The results suggest that increased habitual physical activity may have a favorable effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in black adolescents.