Cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between physical fitness and risk factors for coronary heart disease in men and women: ?The Adelaide 1000?

Physical Activity and Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins in Elderly Women

“…However, this group of researchers was unable to demonstrate a rise in HDL‐C levels when following the same population prospectively for 2 years in a randomized, controlled exercise training study 14 . This same contrast between cross‐sectional and prospective data has also been reported by Sedgwick et al 10 and Owens et al, 9,25 with prospective data generally supporting the viewpoint that moderate exercise training has little independent effect (when weight and diet change are accounted for) on the serum lipid and lipoprotein profile of women 26 …”

“…Cross‐Sectional Data Cross‐sectional studies of young‐ to middle‐aged adult women have generally concluded that high levels of physical activity and fitness are associated with a more favorable serum lipid and lipoprotein profile, particularly higher HDL‐C levels 9–13 . Although some of the studies attempted to adjust for various factors known to effect serum lipids, these cross‐sectional data have limited value for public health recommendations because they are subject to self‐selection bias and the effect of unmeasured confounding factors that often accompany increases in physical activity.…”

“…Duncan et al 19 have suggested that HDL‐C is more likely to increase significantly in women if the length of exercise training exceeds 12 weeks. However, several other recent, well‐controlled studies have failed to demonstrate that moderate exercise leads to elevated HDL‐C in women even after 1 to 2 years 10,13,15 . Cauley et al 14 who failed to measure an increase in HDL‐C despite 2 years of moderate exercise training by 100 postmenopausal women (mean age 58 years), suggest that a more vigorous approach may be needed to produce an effect, and that older women may be less resistant to HDL‐C increases with exercise.…”

“…Among young adult and middle aged women, cross‐sectional studies have repeatedly shown that the physically active have serum lipid profiles that are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in comparison with sedentary subjects 9–13 . However, well‐designed prospective studies have produced inconsistent results, and some appear to contradict the cross‐sectional findings 14–25 .…”

Effects of Endurance Exercise and Hormone Replacement Therapy on Serum Lipids in Older Women

“…Physical activity has also been shown to have a favorable effect on serum lipids and lipoproteins. Cross‐sectional studies of women have shown a positive relationship between participation in regular exercise and serum levels of HDL‐C 5–11 . However, prospective studies of the effects of exercise training on the lipid profile in older women have yielded variable results 12–19 .…”