Serum lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and intravenous fat tolerance in young athletes

Serum lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and intravenous fat tolerance were studied in 22 male athletes and compared with healthy age and weight-height matched controls. All of the subjects were non-smokers. Athletes had lower serum, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides, lower serum VLDL and LDL cholesterol and an increase in apolipoprotein A I. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was similar in both groups. The clearance of i.v. injected triglyceride emulsion was faster in athletes. This suggests that the lower serum and VLDL triglycerides in athletes are at least in part due to a more rapid triglyceride clearance.