Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in middle-aged male runners and sedentary controls

Serum Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration was compared between middle-aged well-trained Caucasian male endurance runners (N = 57), (mean age +/- SEM 47.8 +/- 0.7 yr) and age-, body mass-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched male nonathletic control subjects (N = 62), (mean age +/- SEM 48.7 +/- 0.8). The mean weekly training distance of the runners was (60.7 +/- 2.8 km.wk-1) at the time of testing. Median Lp(a) levels were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the runners (15.0 mg.dl-1) and the control subjects (12.5 mg.dl-1). As expected, compared with control subjects, in runners levels of other lipoproteins and apoproteins were significantly more favorable for cardiovascular health (all P < 0.01). There was no significant relationship between Lp(a) and any other measured variable (lipid, anthropometric, or dietary) in the runners group. In the control group, the significant positive correlation between Lp(a) and LDL-C was no longer significant after correction for the estimated contribution of Lp(a) cholesterol to LDL-C. These cross-sectional data suggest that a lifestyle of moderate to intense exercise training does not exert a significant impact on the Lp(a) level.