[Modification of lipoprotein parameters in the initial phase of physical exercise in middle-aged cardiovascular...

The effect of a daily swimming-training of 20--30 minutes for four weeks (six times a week with intensities of 50--60% VO2 max) on the lipid and lipoprotein spectrum, respectively, was investigated in 40 elderly male patients in a heart-circulatory cure (on an average 48,7 years old). At the beginning all patients had an HDL-cholesterol level lower than 0.91 mmol/l which rose significantly towards the end of the cure. LDL-cholesterol dropped significantly. The lipid index by Klimov and the quotient LDL-C/HDL-C descended at the end cure. The separation of the lipoproteine (Lp) by discelectrophoresis and the evaluation of their percentage showed a reduction of the beta-Lp and an increase of the alpha-Lp coinciding with the lipid-data. The quotient beta-Lp/alpha-Lp also decreased significantly. In the apolipoproteins A and B statistically ensured alterations in concentrations could not be determined. The disproportional changes of the lipid- and protein-portions were referred to in the discussion. According to our results the lipid-portion of the Lp (especially LDL- and HDL-cholesterol) indicated the changes more sensitively than the apolipoproteins A and B. The data demonstrate the possibility of raising the HDL-cholesterol-level of elderly men by physical training.