Effects of Exercise Training on Serum Lipid and Lipoprotein Concentrations in Women: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

It has been suggested that regular exercise produces favorable changes in serum lipid and lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations. However, most of the subjects in this area of research have been men. Given the differences in lipid profiles between men and women, we wanted to determine if these same favorable changes took place in women. Of the 145 longitudinal studies available in this area, 27 met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis (i.e., an exercise training study that used women subjects and measured changes in lipid concentrations). Results show that exercise does favorably alter serum lipid profiles in women by reducing total cholesterol (194 to 190 mg.dl-1; P = 0.02), triglyceride (91 to 82 mg.dl-1; P = 0.01), and the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (3.28 to 3.16; mg.dl-1; P = 0.03). However, a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or decrease in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration was not observed. Results also show that changes in body weight during exercise are associated with changes in total cholesterol (r = 0.56; P = 0.01) and triglyceride (r = 0.42; P = 0.06) concentrations, indicating that greater body weight losses resulted in larger decreases in cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Further analysis indicates that those women most at risk for heart disease (elevated pre-exercise cholesterol concentrations) responded most favorably to exercise training. These results suggest that exercise training, especially for those at risk for heart diseases is beneficial to the lipid profile of women.

The effect of six months training on weight, body fatness and serum lipids in apparently healthy elderly Dutch men and women

“…Thirdly, baseline lipid levels of our subjects were rather normal for elderly (65% had a total serum cholesterol concentration`6.5 mmolaL and only 3% of the subjects had a serum total cholesterol concentration above b 8 mmolaL) and it is suggested that subjects with a raised lipid concentration, in particular, tend to experience lipid alterations induced by exercise. 35 This might also explain the reason for observing a change in mean total serum cholesterol among subjects of the all-round activity group and not in the exercise bicycle group. It should be noted however, that part of it may be a consequence of regression to the mean.…”

Aerobic exercise and lipids and lipoproteins in men: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…It is especially appropriate when the number of subjects that can be enrolled in most studies is small [54,55]. Although several meta-analyses have been published dealing with the effects of prolonged aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in adults [56][57][58][59][60] we are not aware of any that have focused exclusively on the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in men. Thus, the purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in adult men.…”

Balance, falls, and bone health: Role of exercise in reducing fracture risk after stroke

“…It is also noteworthy that a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins has been shown to induce bone formation in cell cultures and rodents [108][109][110], although the findings in humans are inconclusive [111][112]. Aerobic exercise has favorable effects on lipid profiles [113][114][115] and endothelial function [116][117][118]. Therefore, the gain in bone health could be partly attributable to improvement in cardiovascular function.…”