Effect of physical fitness on plasma lipids in young Chinese adults

Epidemiological studies indicate that individuals with more physically demanding occupations or leisure time activities generally have a lower rate of coronary heart disease (CHD) than those that are more sedentary. Physical exercise may alleviate the risk factors of CHD. Previous literature regarding the effects of exercise upon triglycerides and cholesterol is contradictory. This study compares the effects of regular physical exercise on the concentration of plasma lipids of thirty male medical students, ages ranging between 21 and 30 years. The diet of all the subjects was nearly the same during the last four years. The subjects participated in a voluntary program of exercise for ten weeks. The differences between before and after the exercises were found to be -0.13 +/- 0.04, -0.13 +/- 0.08, 0.21 +/- 0.05, -0.10 +/- 0.04, -0.02 +/- 0.01 mmol/L of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol (mean +/- SEM), respectively. The differences between triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol were significant (p < 0.05), meanwhile, the differences between total cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol were insignificant. The marked increase in maximal O2 uptakes after exercise training of ten weeks indicates a significant improvement in the subjects' physical fitness. Based on the results in this study, we can conclude that daily physical exercise may be an effective inhibitor for cardiovascular diseases in later life, thereby necessitating a strategy for physical activity in young adults.