Effects of training and a single session of exercise on lipids and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic men.

To differentiate between transient (acute) and training (chronic) effects of exercise at two different intensities on blood lipids and apolipoproteins (apo), 26 hypercholesterolemic men (cholesterol = 258 mg/dl, age = 47 yr, weight = 81.9 kg) trained three times per week for 24 wk, 350 kcal/session at high (80% maximal O2 uptake, n = 12) or moderate (50% maximal O2 uptake, n = 14) intensity. Serum lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations (plasma volume adjusted) were measured before and immediately, 24, and 48 h after exercise on four different occasions corresponding to 0, 8, 16, and 24 wk of training. Data were analyzed using three-way repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance followed by analysis of variance and Duncan's procedures (alpha = 0.05). A transient 6% rise in low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol measured before training at the 24-h time point was no longer evident after training. Triglycerides fell and total cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL3-C, apo A-I, and apo B rose 24-48 h after exercise regardless of training or intensity. Total cholesterol, HDL3-C, apo A-I, and apo B were lower and HDL2-C was higher after training than before training. Thus exercise training and a single session of exercise exert distinct and interactive effects on lipids and apolipoproteins. These results support the practice of training at least every other day to obtain optimal exercise benefits.