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Cross-Sectional Association Between Normal-Range Lactate Dehydrogenase, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score

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Abstract

Introduction

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has historically been used as an indicator of negative health outcomes, such as myocardial ischaemia and lung disease; however, recent evidence has suggested that LDH levels within normal limits may be inversely related to coronary heart disease. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the association between physical activity and normal-range LDH levels, and how LDH levels, in turn, are associated with the predicted risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Data from the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used (N = 2087 adults aged 40–79 years; analysed in 2015). Participants were included if they had LDH levels within the normal range (105–333 IU/L). LDH values were obtained from a blood sample. Physical activity was measured using accelerometry and expressed in total minutes per day (TPA), as well as in the total activity count per day (TAC/d). Finally, the predicted 10-year risk of a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) event was calculated using validated Pooled Cohort Equations.

Results

In a polytomous logistic regression, for a 1-standard-deviation (1SD) increase in TPA (SD 102.3 min/day), the participants were at 30 % increased odds (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.52, P = 0.002) of being in LDH quartile 4 (versus quartile 1). Those in LDH quartile 4 (versus quartile 1) were at 55 % reduced odds (OR 0.45, 95 % CI 0.20–0.99, P = 0.04) of being in ASCVD quartile 4 (versus quartile 1).

Conclusion

These findings contribute to mounting evidence of the diagnostic value of normal-range LDH levels, implicating normal-range LDH levels as a novel biomarker through which physical activity may be associated with CVD.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are not aware of any affiliations, memberships, funding or financial holdings that might be perceived as affecting the objectivity of this manuscript. This study was not supported by any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA

    Samuel L. Buckner & Jeremy P. Loenneke

  2. Center for Health Behavior Research, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, 229 Turner Center, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Paul D. Loprinzi

Authors
  1. Samuel L. Buckner
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  2. Jeremy P. Loenneke
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  3. Paul D. Loprinzi
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Correspondence to Paul D. Loprinzi.

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Samuel Buckner, Jeremy Loenneke and Paul Loprinzi declare that they have no conflicts of interest and received no funding for preparation of this manuscript.

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Buckner, S.L., Loenneke, J.P. & Loprinzi, P.D. Cross-Sectional Association Between Normal-Range Lactate Dehydrogenase, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score. Sports Med 46, 467–472 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0457-x

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