Long-term physical exercise and lipoprotein(a) levels in a previously sedentary male and female population.

We investigated the effect of long-term physical exercise on serum lipoprotein(a) levels. 21 sedentary men and 15 sedentary women were trained three to four times a week with increasing intensity during 9 months. After 24 weeks all subjects ran a 15 km race and after 36 weeks a half marathon run (21 km). Blood samples were drawn before the training programme, 5 days before both races and 5 days after the half marathon run. Median (interquartile range) pre-training values in the male group were 32 (11-63) mg/L and in the female group 65 (23-199) mg/L. After 24 weeks of training, serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations had risen significantly in both male and female groups. Moreover, after 36 weeks of training, in preparation for the half marathon competition, median serum lipoprotein(a) rose almost twofold in both groups and was still elevated 5 days later. This study demonstrates that an exercise programme which includes running of increasing distances significantly increases serum lipoprotein(a) concentration.