The effect of resistance, endurance, and combination exercise on lipid metabolism and non-traditional cardiovascular disease risk markers in previously untrained men

Abstract

While adhering to an active lifestyle has been associated with a more favorable lipid profile and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), information regarding the optimal training modality is not well defined. This project examined the acute and chronic effects of endurance (ET), resistance (RT), and combination endurance / resistance (CT) exercise on lipid metabolism and non-traditional CHD risk markers in untrained men. Thirty-one subjects were randomly assigned to participate for 12 weeks in one of three exercise groups: ET, RT, or CT. To measure the effects of acute exercise on lipid metabolism, fasting blood samples were obtained before (baseline) and 24 hours after (24 h) acute exercise (treadmill jogging at 70% V . O2peak, 350 kcals; weight lifting exercise at 70% of 1RM; combination of treadmill jogging and weight lifting at 70% maximal capacity, 350 kcals). Blood variables were adjusted for plasma volume shifts. This acute exercise protocol was completed on two different occasions corresponding to 0 and 12 weeks of training. For acute exercise (pre-training), significant results of a 3 (Group) x 2 (Time) ANOVA, repeated for Time, (p < 0.05) were as follows: TC, HDL-C, HDL2&3-C were lower 24 h after exercise in the RT group. HDL2-C was higher 24 h after exercise in the CT and ET groups. In the ET group, LDL1-C was elevated 24 h after exercise. With all groups combined, LDL3-C and the TC / HDL-C ratio were elevated and LDL2-C decreased 24 h after exercise. For exercise training, significant results of a 3 (Group) x 2 (Training Period) ANOVA, repeated for Training Period, (p < 0.05) were as follows: Body Fat, LDL2-C, and apo A-I were lower after training. Changes in other lipid variables were similar in untrained males performing different types of exercise training. For acute exercise (post-training), significant results of a 3 (Group) x 2 (Time) ANOVA, repeated for Time, (p < 0.05) were as follows: TC, HDL-C, HDL2-C, LDL-C, NONHDL-C, VLDL-C, IDL-C, LDL3-C, LDL density, and LPLa were all higher 24 h after exercise. Post-exercise changes in the dependent variables were similar in trained males performing different types of exercise