Lipoprotein subfractions of runners and sedentary men

Abstract

Serum concentrations of lipoprotein mass by flotation rate were measured in 12 long-distance runners and 64 sedentary men by analytic ultracentrifugation. The runners had significantly lower serum mass concentrations of the smaller, denser low-density lipoprotein particles of flotation rates Sf 0-7 (including the LDL-II, LDL-III, and LDL-IV subspecies), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles of Sf 20-400, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles of flotation rates F1.20 0-1.5 (predominantly the HDL3 subspecies), and higher serum mass concentrations of HDL particles with flotation rates between F1.20 2.0-9.0 (including HDL2a and HDL2b and less dense particles belonging to HDL3) than did sedentary men. Lipoprotein lipase activity was higher, and hepatic lipase activity was lower in runners than in the sedentary men. Thus, the effects of endurance exercise training to lower LDL may be specific to the smaller, denser LDL particle region. Similarities in the lipoprotein mass profiles of the runners and the low-risk profiles of sedentary, middle-aged women suggest the effects of common metabolic factors possibly leading to reduced risk of coronary artery disease.

Fig 1

Upper panel displays the average distributions of serum high-density (HDL) lipoprotein mass concentration by flotation rate in sedentary male nonsmokers (N = 64) and sedentary male smokers (N = 17). The average HDL mass distributions for the nonsmokers and the smokers are computed by averaging the heights of the individual curves of the 64 nonsmokers and the 17 smokers, respectively, at each flotation rate. The HDL difference curve of the lower panel is computed by subtracting the average HDL-mass concentration of the nonsmokers from the average for the smokers.

Fig 2

Upper panel displays the average distributions of serum low-density lipoprotein mass concentration by flotation rate for male runners (N=12) and male nonrunners (N=64). The lower panel displays the LDL difference curve for runners minus nonrunners.

Fig 3

Upper panel displays the average distribution of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) mass concentration by flotation rate for male runners (N=12) and male nonrunners (N = 64). The lower panel displays the HDL difference curve for runners minus nonrunners.

Fig 4

HDL difference curves for 36 sedentary women minus 55 sedentary men, and 12 male runners minus 64 male nonrunners, all of middle age. The sedentary men and women are a subset of a previously published cross-sectional study [10], who were selected to be between 30–55 years and not on oral contraceptives or estrogen supplements.

Fig 5

LDL difference curves for 36 sedentary women minus 55 sedentary men, and 12 male runners minus 64 male nonrunners, all of middle age. The sedentary men and women are a subset of a previously published cross-sectional study [10], who were selected to be between 30–56 years and not on oral contraceptives or estrogen supplements.