Effect of prolonged exercise on serum lipids and lipoproteins

It has been shown that physical exercise lowers serum triglyceride levels and may increase high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these beneficial adaptations is still incomplete. Twenty-six men, who played soccer continuously for 64 hours to establish a world's record, were monitored for acute changes in lipid metabolism. Food intake was determined before and during the exercise period. Blood specimens were taken before and repeatedly during the match for the measurement of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (CH), glycerol, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), and cholesterol in various lipoprotein fractions (quantitative lipoprotein electrophoresis). During exercise TG levels decreased from 116 +/- 26 to 66 +/- 13 mg/dL and CH from 180 +/- 22 to 135 +/- 25 mg/dL. Both TG and glycerol showed an initial increase followed by a continuous decrease. Alpha-CH increased by 19% whereas beta-CH and pre-beta-CH decreased markedly (39% and 78%, respectively). In contrast to alpha-CH, apo A-1 fell only slightly by 10%. These results indicate that the effect of chronic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins can be mimicked by acute prolonged exercise. Similar mechanisms may be involved in these adaptations. Moreover, the extreme length of physical exertion substantially lowered CH.