Lipoprotein lipase activity and plasma triglyceride clearance are elevated in endurance-trained women

Numerous studies have examined factors regulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in male endurance athletes, but few studies have examined HDL-C regulation in female athletes. The present study compared lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, postheparin lipolytic activities, and the clearance rate (K2) of triglycerides following an intravenous fat infusion in 12 female distance runners (aged 33 +/- 9 years, mean +/- SD) and 13 sedentary women (33 +/- 9 years). Runners were leaner and had greater maximum oxygen uptake values than controls. Runners also had nonsignificantly lower triglyceride (53 +/- 15 v 65 +/- 13 mg/dL) and higher HDL-C (62 +/- 14 v 52 +/- 8 mg/dL, P = .06). Lipoprotein lipase activity (LPLA) was 33% greater (P < .05) and fat clearance (K2) was 27% faster (P < .01) in the trained women, and LPLA correlated directly with K2 (r = .61) and HDL-C (r = .62) in this group (P < .05 for both). K2 was directly related to HDL-C in the athletes (r = .57, P = .06), and also when the active and sedentary women were combined (r = .43, P < .05). These results suggest that increased LPLA and enhanced plasma triglyceride clearance may contribute to the HDL-C levels of physically active premenopausal women.