Abstract
Physically trained individuals differ greatly from untrained counterparts in their
high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol blood levels. Such differences in turn
may have implications for long-term preventive policies in coronary artery disease.
In prospective studies, exercise programs in men, but seldom in women, have been shown
to independently raise HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in the blood. This evidence
is of major interest because of the voluminous epidemiologic evidence for low blood
levels of HDL-C as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Experimental evidence
is still missing to establish the efficacy of elevating blood HDL-C concentrations
in actually reducing the risk of incident, or recurrent, coronary events. If the efficacy
of elevating blood levels of HDL-C in ameliorating coronary prognosis is demonstrated,
the recommendation for hygienic means, primarily physical exercise, will be reinforced.
The role of physical training in elevating blood HDL-C is examined and plausible mechanisms
for the observed experimental results are reviewed.
Key words
Endurance exercise - coronary heart disease - lipoprotein - atherosclerosis - HDL
cholesterol
