Effects of long-term exercise and high-cholesterol diet on lipid-lipoprotein metabolism in rats

To accelerate the synthesis of endogenous lipids, Wistar male rats were administered sucrose solution and standard chow diet for 5 weeks. The diet was then changed to tap water plus a high-cholesterol (Cho) diet and the animals were subjected to treadmill running for 5 weeks. The concentrations of serum triglyceride (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cho in the group that had endurance exercise and was fed high-Cho diet were significantly lower than those in the non-exercise group that was fed high-Cho diet. However, the exercise-high-Cho group accumulated quantities of lipids in the liver similar to the non-exercise-high-Cho group and developed a markedly fatty liver. In conclusion, it is suggested that long-term exercise did not accelerate hepatic lipid metabolism and seemed to suppress synthesis and release of VLDL in the liver.