Effects of exercise training on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in rats

We studied the effects of exercise training on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations of rats on a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. Twelve weeks of training occurred at moderate [Mod-Exer, 70% peak O2 consumption (VO2)] and high (High-Exer, 82% peak VO2) intensities. The duration of daily training sessions was adjusted to maintain equivalent energy expenditure between groups. Following training, body weight and lean body mass were 10% lower in the High-Exer group than the Mod-Exer or control groups. Compared with control values, carcass fat content was 33% lower for both trained groups. The oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle was approximately 30% greater in the trained groups compared with the control group. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total triglyceride concentrations in plasma were not different between the trained groups, but were 33-47% lower compared with the control group. The exercise-induced changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations may be a result of a change in preferred substrate utilization in skeletal muscle toward a greater oxidation of lipid.