Longitudinal association between moderate to vigorous physical activity and lipid profile indicators in adolescents

The objective of this study was to examine the association between time engaged in moderate (MPA), vigorous (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) physical activity (PA) and indicators of lipid profile in adolescents. This longitudinal study with a four-year follow-up, and three collection points (2014, 2015 and 2017) analyzed the data of 136 adolescents (10-13 years old; 53.7% girls), in João Pessoa, Brazil. The time in MPA, VPA and MVPA times was measured by accelerometers. The lipid profile indicators analyzed were total cholesterol (TC), low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-c ratios. There was an inverse association between MPA time and TC values (ß = -0.560; 95%CI: -1.116; -0.004); VPA and LDL-C (ß = -0.962; 95%CI: -1.678; -0.246) and non-HDL-C (ß = -0.955; 95%CI: -1.708; -0.201); and MVPA and TC (ß = -0.436; 95%CI: -0.816; -0.055), TG (ß = -0.415; 95%CI: -0.712; -0.118), LDL-C (ß = -0.460; 95%CI: -0.823; -0.096), non-HDL-C (ß = -0.522; 95%CI: -0.908; -0.136) and TC/HDL-C (ß = -0.472; 95%CI: -0.889; -0.055). Adolescents more engaged in PA, especially in MVPA, exhibited better levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and TC/HDL-C; and AFV exerted a greater influence on LDL-c and non-HDL-c levels.HighlightsThis study is one of the first observational longitudinal studies to analyze the association between different PA intensities, measured by accelerometer, and lipid profile indicators, with a 4-year follow-up and 3 collection points in adolescents from a low-to-middle income country;Adolescents engaged in PA, especially MVPA intensity, obtained better TC, TG, LDL-c, non-HDL-C and TC/HDL-C levels;VPA was more strongly associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels compared to MVPA.