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Changes in body composition and use of blood cholesterol lowering drugs predict changes in blood lipids during 12 weeks of resistance exercise training in old adults

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Abstract

Purpose

Aging is associated with an impairment of blood lipids. The present study investigated the response of blood lipids to resistance exercise in old adults. The particular aim was to investigate whether the response of blood lipids is associated with changes in body composition of blood lipid medication.

Methods

Subjects (N = 236, 73.7 ± 5.7 years, 58.2 % female) participated in a 12-week resistance exercise program (3 times/week; 3 sets, 6–8 repetitions at 75–80 % of the 1-repetition maximum), designed to increase strength and muscle mass of major muscle groups. Body composition, drug use, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were assessed at baseline and endpoint.

Results

The concentrations of HDL (−6 mg/dl), LDL (−18 mg/dl), TC (−26 mg/dl) and TG (−12 mg/g) decreased significantly during the study period. A reduction in fat mass by 1 kg predicted a reduction in TG (5.0 mg/dl, P = 0.017) and a gain in lean body mass by 1 kg predicted also a reduction in TG (−4.5 mg/dl, P = 0.023). The use of blood cholesterol lowering drugs predicted greater reductions in TC (−16.9 mg/dl, P = 0.032) and LDL (−11.8 mg/dl, P = 0.038) during training.

Conclusions

TG, TC, LDL and HDL decreased significantly after 12 weeks of progressive resistance exercise in old adults. Changes in body composition, i.e., reduction in fat mass and gain in lean body mass improved the blood lipid profile. Use of blood lipid lowering drugs was associated with greater reductions in TC and LDL after the training.

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Acknowledgments

This study was part of the IceProQualita project, which was funded by the Icelandic Technology Development Fund (No. 071323008), Research Fund of the University of Iceland, a grant from Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund and the Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Geriatric Research Fund. The trial is registered at the US National Library of Medicine (Nr. NCT01074879).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Eiriksgata 29, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    A. Arnarson, A. Ramel, O. G. Geirsdottir & I. Thorsdottir

  2. Department of Geriatrics, National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    P. V. Jonsson

  3. The Icelandic Gerontological Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    P. V. Jonsson

  4. Unit for Nutrition Research, National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata 29, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    A. Arnarson, A. Ramel, O. G. Geirsdottir & I. Thorsdottir

Authors
  1. A. Arnarson
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  2. A. Ramel
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  3. O. G. Geirsdottir
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  4. P. V. Jonsson
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  5. I. Thorsdottir
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Ramel.

Additional information

The study was funded by the Icelandic Technology Development Fund (No. 071323008), Research Fund of the University of Iceland, Landspitali University Hospital Research Fund and the Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Geriatric Research Fund.

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Arnarson, A., Ramel, A., Geirsdottir, O.G. et al. Changes in body composition and use of blood cholesterol lowering drugs predict changes in blood lipids during 12 weeks of resistance exercise training in old adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 26, 287–292 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0172-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0172-0

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