Regular Practice of Physical Activity Improves Cholesterol Transfers to High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Other HDL Metabolic Parameters in Older Adults

Abstract

The effects of regular physical activity on two important anti-atherosclerosis functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), namely its capacity to receive both forms of cholesterol and its anti-oxidant function, were investigated in this study comparing older adults with young individuals. One-hundred and eight healthy adult individuals were enrolled and separated into the following groups: active older (60–80 yrs, n = 24); inactive older (60–79 yrs, n = 21); active young (20–34 yrs, n = 39); and inactive young (20–35 yrs, n = 24). All performed cardiopulmonary tests. Blood samples were collected in order to assess the following measures: lipid profile, HDL anti-oxidant capacity, paraoxonase-1 activity, HDL subfractions, and lipid transfer to HDL. Comparing active older and active young groups with inactive older and inactive young groups, respectively, the active groups presented higher HDL-C levels (p p p p p p 2peak than the inactive groups; VO2peak was higher in the two younger than in the two older groups (p 2peak.

Keywords

• aging
• cholesterol
• HDL metabolism
• HDL function
• physical activity