Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short Term Effects of Exercise on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Humans

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Sports Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Lipids and lipoproteins play a major role in the cascade of events leading up to the manifestations of atherosclerosis as it relates to coronary heart disease (CHD). Exercise-induced changes in the blood lipid profile appear to be therapeutic, an observation favouring the integration of exercise in CHD prevention and treatment programmes. The specific stimuli needed to produce such therapeutic effects are yet to be elucidated; both the repeated, transitory effects of single, isolated exercise sessions and exercise training effects are likely to be involved. The focus of this article is on the acute or short term changes of a single session of exercise on plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

The short term, exercise-induced changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins are reviewed in the context of the role various lipid classifications play in coronary artery disease, the many potentially confounding variables that are ever-present, and the relative effects of gender, exercise modality, and exercise intensity. It is concluded that a single bout of exercise has the potential to induce short term, transient increases in the high density lipoproteins HDL and HDL2 and decreases in triglycerides in men. For women, more research is needed to determine clearly the exercise induced short term changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins. It appears that duration and intensity of exercise are directly related to the degree of changes observed: bouts of prolonged, intense exercise of sufficient energy expenditure appear to induce decreases in triglycerides and increases in HDL, primarily through HDL2, of greater magnitude and duration. Exercise induced changes in the plasma lipid profile appear to have returned to pre-exercise levels by 48 hours postexercise. Recognising that the underlying physiological mechanisms for changes in lipids and lipoproteins remain inconclusive, the roles of the lipid-regulatory enzymes lipoprotein lipase, lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase, and hepatic triglyceride lipase are discussed. It is clear that well controlled studies are needed to examine the effects of exercise on short term changes in the blood lipid profile in women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Annuzzi G, Jansson E, Kaijser L, Holmquist L, Carlson LA. Increased removal rate of exogenous triglycerides after prolonged exercise in man: time course and effect of exercise duration. Metabolism 36: 438–443, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Heart Association. Heart and Stroke Facts, Dallas, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  • Barclay M, Barclay RK, Skipski VP, Terebus-Kekish O, Mueller CH, et al. Fluctuations in human serum lipoproteins during the normal menstrual cycle. Biochemistry Journal 96: 205–209, 1965

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berg A, Johns J, Baumstark M, Kreutz W, Keul J. Changes in HDL subfractions after a single, extended episode of physical exercise. Atherosclerosis 47: 231–240, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berger GMB, Griffiths MP. Acute effects of moderate exercise on plasma lipoprotein parameters. International Journal of Sports Medicine 8: 336–341, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bookstein L, Gidding SS, Donovan M, Smith FA. Day-to-day variability of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Archives of Internal Medicine 150: 1653–1657, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown SA, Boerwinckle E, Kashanian FK, Swanson N, Patsch W. Variation in concentrations of lipids, lipoprotein lipids, and apolipoproteins A-I and B in plasma from healthy women. Clinical Chemistry 36: 207–210, 1990

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown MS, Goldstein JL. In Gillman et al. (Eds) Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, p. 874, Pergamon Press, New York, 1990

  • Brownell KD, Bachorik PS, Ayerle RS. Changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels in men and women after a program of moderate exercise. Circulation 65: 477–483, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson LA, Mossfeldt F. Acute effects of prolonged, heavy exercise on the concentration of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in man. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 62: 51–59, 1964

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cullinane E, Lazarus B, Thompson PD, Saratelli A, Herbert PN. Acute effects of a single exercise session on serum lipids in untrained men. Clinica Chimica Acta 109: 341–344, 1981

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cullinane E, Siconolfi S, Saritelli A, Thompson PD. Acute decrease in serum triglycerides with exercise: is there a threshold for an exercise effect? Metabolism 31: 844–847, 1982

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeLong DM, DeLong ER, Wood PD, Lippel K, Rifkind B. A comparison of methods for the estimation of plasma low-and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Journal of the American Medical Association 256: 2372–2377, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dill DB, Costill DL. Calculation of percentage changes in volumes of blood, plasma, and red cells in dehydration. Journal of Applied Physiology 37: 247–248, 1974

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan JJ, Gordon NF, Scott CB. Women walking for health and fitness. How much is enough? Journal of the American Medical Association 266: 3295–3299, 1991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dufaux B, Assmann G, Hollmann W. Plasma lipoproteins and physical activity: a review. International Journal of Sports Medicine 3: 123–136, 1982a

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dufaux B, Assmann G, Schachten H, Hollmann W. The delayed effects of prolonged physical exercise and physical training on cholesterol level. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 48: 25–29, 1982b

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dufaux B, Order U, Müller R, Hollmann W. Delayed effects of prolonged exercise on serum lipoproteins. Metabolism 35: 105–109, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durstine JL, Goga TB, Bartoli WP, Ward DS. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to acute exerise in active and sedentary women. Abstract. Federation Procedings 46: 682, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • Durstine JL, Miller W, Sherman WM, Ivy JL. Increases in HDL-cholesterol and the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio during prolonged endurance exercise. Metabolism 31: 993–997, 1983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durstine JL, Rocchio ML, Smith PE, Myers DS, Ward DS. Prolonged exhaustive exercise effect on plasma lipids and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) in women. Abstract. Federation Procedings 46: 1014, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Enger SC, Strømme SB, Refsum HE. High density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides in serum after a single exposure to prolonged heavy exercise. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 40: 341–345, 1980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farber H, Arbetter J, Schaeffer E, Hill S, Dallal G, et al. Acute metabolic effects of an endurance triathlon. Annals of Sports Medicine 3: 131–138, 1987

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Frederickson DS. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without the use of preparative ultracentrifugation. Clinical Chemistry 18: 499–502, 1972

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Glomset A. The plasma lecithin:cholesteryl acyltransferase reaction. Journal of Lipid Research 9: 155–167, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg L, Elliott DL. The effects of exercise on lipid metabolism in men and women. Sports Medicine 4: 307–321, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodyear LJ, Van Houten DR, Fronsoe MS, Rocchio ML, Dover EV, Durstine JL. Immediate and delayed effects of marathon running on lipids and lipoproteins in women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 22: 588–592, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin BA, Skinner ER, Maughan RJ. The acute effect of prolonged walking and dietary changes on plasma lipoprotein concentrations and high-density lipoprotein subfractions. Metabolism 37: 535–541, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamsten A, Walldins G, Szamosi A, Dahlen G, deFaire U. Relationship of angiographically defined coronary disease to serum lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in young survivors of myocardial infection. Circulation 73: 1097–1110, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haskell WL. The influence of exercise on the concentration of triglyceride and cholesterol in human plasma. In Terjung (Ed.) Exercise and sport science reviews, pp. 205–244, Collamore Press, Toronto, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Haskell WL. Physical activity and health: Need to define the required stimulus. American Journal of Cardiology 55: 4D–9D, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks AL, MacDougall JD, Muckle TJ. Acute changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with exercise of different intensities. Journal of Applied Physiology 63: 1956–1960, 1987

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes RA, Housh TJ, Hughes RJ, Johnson GO. The effect of exercise duration on serum cholesterol and triglycerides in women. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 62: 98–104, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes RA, Thorland WG, Eyford T, Hood T. The acute effects of exercise duration on serum lipoprotein metabolism. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 30: 37–44, 1990b

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes RA, Thorland WG, Housh TJ, Johnson GO. The effect of exercise intensity on serum lipoprotein responses. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 30: 254–260, 1990a

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iltis PW, Herling K, Lesmes G. Analytic and biologic variability of plasma lipoproteins. Annals of Sports Medicine 2: 117–119, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones DY, Judd JT, Taylor PR, Campbell WS, Nair PP. Menstrual cycle effects on plasma lipids. Metabolism 37: 1–2, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaminsky LA, Kanter MN, Nequin ND, Lesmes GR, Laham-Saeger J. Lipids and lipoproteins after an ultramarathon road race. Annals of Sports Medicine 4: 41–44, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantor MA, Cullinane EM, Herbert PN, Thompson PD. Acute increase in lipoprotein lipase following prolonged exercise. Metabolism 33: 454–457, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kantor MA, Cullinane EM, Sady SP, Herbert PN, Thompson PD. Exercise acutely increases high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lipoprotein lipase activity in trained and untrained men. Metabolism 36: 188–192, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-J, Kalkhof RK. Changes in lipoprotein composition during the menstrual cycle. Metabolism 28: 663–668, 1979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkeby K, Strømme SB, Bjerkedal I, Hertzenberg L, Refsum HE. Effects of prolonged, strenuous exercise on lipids and thyroxine in serum. Acta Medica Scandinavica 202: 463–467, 1977

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kokkinos PF, Hurley BF. Strength training and lipoprotein-lipid profiles. Sports Medicine 9: 266–272, 1990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuusi T, Kostiaininen E, Vartiainen E, Pitkänen L, Ehnholm C, et al. Acute effects of marathon running on levels of serum lipoproteins and androgenic hormones in healthy males. Metabolism 33: 527–531, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamon-Fava S, McNamara JR, Farber HW, Hill NS, Schaefer EJ. Acute changes in lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein and low-desity lipoprotein particle size after an endurance triathlon. Metabolism 38: 921–925, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leaf DA, Kuehl K. Acute prolonged subanaerobic exercise on hypertriglyceridemics: effect on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and respiratory exchange ratio slope. Annals of Sports Medicine 3: 242–246, 1988

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee R, Nieman D, Raval R, Blankenship J, Lee J. The effects of acute moderate exercise on serum lipids and lipoproteins in mildly obese women. International Journal of Sports Medicine 12: 537–542, 1991

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lennon DLF, Stratman FW, Shrago E, Nagle FJ, Hanson PG, et al. Total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol changes during acute moderate-intensity exercise in men and women. Metabolism 32: 244–249, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lithell H, Schéle R, Vessby B, Jacobs I. Lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase, and glycogen after prolonged physical activity. Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental, and Exercise Physiology 57: 698–702, 1984

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lokey EA, Tran ZV. Effects of exercise training on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in women: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Sports Medicine 10: 424–429, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maciejko JJ, Holmes DR, Kottke BA, Zinsmeister AR, Dink DM, et al. Apolipoprotein A-I as a marker for angiographically assessed coronary artery disease. New England Journal of Medicine 309: 385–389, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manninen V, Elo MO, Frick MH, Haapa K, Heinonen OP, et al. Lipid alterations and decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease in the Helsinki Heart Study. Journal of the American Medical Association 260: 641–651, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marniemi J, Vuori I, Kinnunen V, Rahkila P, Vainikka M, et al. Metabolic changes induced by combined prolonged exercise and low-calorie intake in man. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 53: 121–127, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews KA, Meilahn E, Kuller LH, Kelsey SF, Caggiula AW, et al. Menopause and risk factors for coronary heart disease. New England Journal of Medicine 321: 641–646, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Métivier G, Gauthier R. The effects of acute physical exercise on blood serum cholesterol, triglycerides, human growth hormone (H.G.H.) and free thyroxine (T4) in men over fifty years of age. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 28: 7–10, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller GJ, Miller NE. Plasma-high-density-lipoprotein concentration and development of ischaemic heart disease. Lancet 1: 16–19, 1975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mogadem M, Ahmed SW, Mensch AH, Godwin ID. Within-person fluctuations of serum cholesterol and lipoproteins. Archives of Internal Medicine 150: 1645–1648, 1990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naito HK, Kwak Y-S. Accurate measurement of serum total cholesterol: the need for standardization. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 11: 8S–15S, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Cholesterol Education Program. Current status of blood cholesterol measurement in clinical laboratories in the United States: report from the Laboratory Standardization Panel. Clinical Chemistry 34: 193–201, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference. Triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and coronary heart disease. Journal of the American Medical Association 269: 505–510, 1993

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikkilä EA, Taskinen MR, Rehunen S, Haerkoenen M. Lipoprotein lipase activity in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of runners — relation to serum lipoproteins. Metabolism 27: 1661–1671, 1978

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pattnaik NM, Montes A, Hughes LB, Zilversmit DB. Cholesterol ester exchange protein in human plasma. Isolation and characterization. Biochemica Biophysica Acta 530: 428–438, 1978

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powers SK, Howley ET. Exercise Physiology, Wm C Brown Publishers, Dubuque, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Pronk NP, Crouse SF, O’Brien BC, Rohack JJ. Effects of menopausal status and exercise intensity on short-term changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins in women. Abstract. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 25: S178, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross R. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis — an update. New England Journal of Medicine 314: 488–500, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichl D, Miller NE. Pathophysiology of reverse cholesterol transport: insights from inherited disorders of lipoprotein metabolism. Arteriosclerosis 9: 785–797, 1989

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sady SP, Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Kantor MA, Domagala E, Herbert PN. Prolonged exercise augments plasma triglyceride clearance. Journal of the American Medical Association 256: 2552–2555, 1986

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sauar J, Skrede S, Eriksson J, Blomhoff JP. The relation between the levels of HDL cholesterol and the capacity for removal of triglycerides. Acta Medica Scandinavica 208: 199–203, 1980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Savard R, Després J-P, Marcotte M, Thériault G, Tremblay A, et al. Acute effects of endurance exercise on human adipose tissue metabolism. Metabolism 36: 480–485, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schonfeld G, Weidman SW, Witztum JL, Bowen RM. Alterations in levels and interrelationships of plasma apolipoproteins induced by diet. Metabolism 25: 261–275, 1976

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schriewer H, Jung K, Emke F, Assmann G. Changes in HDL composition in female subjects following a 100-km run. International Journal of Sports Medicine 5: 209–212, 1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Senay LC, Pivamik JM. Fluid shifts during exercise. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 13: 335–387, 1985

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skinner ER, Black D, Maughan RJ. Variability in the response of different male subjects to the effect of marathon running on the increase in plasma high density lipoprotein. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 54: 488–493, 1985

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skinner ER, Watt C, Maughan RJ. The acute effect of marathon running on plasma lipoproteins in female subjects. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 56: 451–456, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith LC, Pownall HJ, Gotto AM. The plasma lipoproteins: structure and metabolism. Annual Review of Biochemistry 47: 751–777, 1978

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sodhi HS, Kudchodkar BJ. Correlating metabolism of plasma and tissue cholesterol with that of plasma lipoproteins. Lancet 1:513–519, 1973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soler JT, Folsom AR, Kushi LH, Prineas RJ, Seal US. Association of body fat distribution with plasma lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins AI and B in postmenopausal women. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 41: 1075–1081, 1988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swank AM, Robertson RJ, Deitrich RW, Bates M. The effect of acute exercise on high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and the subfractions in females. Atherosclerosis 63: 187–192, 1987

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tangney C, Brownie C, Wu S-M. Impact of menstrual periodicity on serum lipid levels and estimates of dietary intakes. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 10: 107–113, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taskinen M-R, Nikkilä EA, Rehunen S, Gordin A. Effects of acute vigorous exercise on lipoprotein lipase activity of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in physically active men. Artery 6: 471–483, 1980

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Henderson O, Herbert PN. Acute effects of prolonged exercise on serum lipids. Metabolism 29: 662–665, 1980

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Eshleman R, Herbert PN. Lipoprotein changes when a reported diet is tested in distance runners. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 39: 368–374, 1984a

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Eshleman R, Kantor MA, Herbert PN. The effect of high-carbohydrate and high-fat diets on the serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of endurance athletes. Metabolism 33: 1003–1010, 1984b

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson PD, Cullinane EM, Eshleman R, Sady SP, Herbert PN. The effects of caloric restriction or exercise cessation on the serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of endurance athletes. Metabolism 33: 943–950, 1984c

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tran ZV, Weltman A, Glass GV, Mood DP. The effects of exercise on blood lipids and lipoproteins: a meta-analysis of studies. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 15: 393–402, 1983

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace MB, Moffatt RJ, Haymes EM, Green NR. Acute effects of resistance exercise on parameters of lipoprotein metabolism. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 23: 199–204, 1991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wirth A, Diehm C, Kohlmeier M, Heuck CC, Vogel I. Effects of prolonged exercise on serum lipids and lipoproteins. Metabolism 32: 669–672, 1983

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood PD, Haskell WL. The effects of exercise on plasma high density lipoproteins. Lipids 14: 417–427, 1979

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood PD, Haskell W, Klein H, Lewis S, Stern MP, Farquhar JW. The distribution of plasma lipoproteins in middle-aged male runners. Metabolism 25: 1249–1257, 1976

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuliani U, Bonetti A, Cerioli G, Catapano A, Zeppilli P. Plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins B and A-I before and after a 24 h endurance race in cross-country skiers. Journal of Sports Medicine 26: 8–10, 1986

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Nicolaas P. Pronk

Authors
  1. Nicolaas P. Pronk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pronk, N.P. Short Term Effects of Exercise on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Humans. Sports Medicine 16, 431–448 (1993). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199316060-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199316060-00006

Keywords

Search

Navigation