Short-term trajectories of exercise-induced plasma lipid changes in overweight females, with a focus on HDL cholesterol

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Ministry of Health, Czech Republic Background Increased levels of plasma lipoproteins are among the modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Dietary changes and increased physical activity are the most powerful non-pharmacological interventions for the optimisation of plasma lipid levels. Objectives The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of an intensive short-term lifestyle intervention on plasma lipid trajectories in overweight non-diabetic females. Materials and Methods Two hundred and two healthy overweight (BMI > 27.5 kg/m2) females underwent an intensive short-term (10-week) intervention (at least four units of 1-hour exercise activity weekly at optimal energetic intake) aimed at lowering body weight. Plasma lipid (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG) levels were examined at baseline and every two weeks over the course of the 10-week intervention. Results There was a significant decrease in BMI (Δ -4.7%, P<0.001) and body weight (Δ -4.9%, P<0.001) after the intervention. Positive changes (decreases) in TC (Δ -8%, P<0.001), TG (Δ -9%, P<0.001) and LDL-C (Δ -11%, P<0.001) were observed immediately after two weeks, but levels did not decrease further. In contrast, HDL-C did not increase as expected: after two weeks of intervention, we observed a significant decrease of about 6% (P<0.001) followed by a slow return to baseline values. But even after ten weeks of intervention, HDL-C values had not reached the values detected at baseline. Conclusion In overweight females, HDL-C decreased after short-term intensive lifestyle intervention. To confirm the protective effect of increased physical activity, plasma lipids need to be examined over a longer time period.