LIPID, LIPOPROTEIN, AND APOLIPOPROTEIN PROFILES IN ACTIVE AND SEDENTARY MEN WITH TETRAPLEGIA

Objective: To investigate whether the risk profile of coronary heart d isease (CHD) is more favorable in physically active men with tetrapleg ia compared with sedentary men with tetraplegia. Design: Using a cross -sectional design, the lipid and (apo) lipoprotein concentrations of 1 1 active and 13 sedentary men with tetraplegia were compared, Regressi on analysis was applied to investigate the influence of subject charac teristics and behavioral factors on the risk profile of CHD. Main Outc ome Measures: Total plasma cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, apolipoprotein-A1 (ApoA1), and apo lipoprotein-B (ApoB) concentrations were determined. Low-density lipop rotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the ratios TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, ApoA1 /ApoB, and HDL-C/ApoA1 were calculated. Results: A significantly highe r HDL-C and ApoA1/ApoB and lower TC/HDL-C were found in the active gro up. Age and body mass index were important determinants of the lipids and (apo)lipoproteins. Sport activity was the only significant determi nant of HDL-C. Conclusions: Results suggest a positive influence of sp ort activity on HDL-C in men with tetraplegia, which may reduce the ri sk of CHD. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicin e and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.