REGULAR PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AND CHANGES IN RISK-FACTORS FOR CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE - A 9 MONTHS PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

This study reports the non-acute effects of a long-term training progr amme of increasing intensity on some cardiovascular risk factors and t he interrelation between these risk factors. Twenty sedentary men and 14 sedentary women were trained 3 to 4 times a week for nine months. A fter 36 weeks all individuals ran a half marathon run. The W-max, weig ht, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were record ed. The concentrations of fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator, pl asminogen activator inhibitor, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, LD L cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) were measured. The t raining programme induced a median increase in W-max of 12% in the mal e group (from 226 to 251.5 Watt) and of 18% in the female group (from 160 to 188.5 Watt). These increases in W-max did not correlate with an y other property under investigation in this study. Blood pressure was not altered, but body weight and body mass index were significantly d ecreased in the male group (from 74.6 to 72.2 kg and from 23.1 to 22.0 kg/m(2), respectively) at the end of the training programme and decre ased non-significantly in the female group (from 63.0 to 60.7 kg and f rom 21.6 to 21.5 kg/m(2), respectively). In the male group total chole sterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triacylglycerols decre ased significantly under the influence of the training sessions. Furth ermore, in both groups, a great decrease in plasma plasminogen activat or inhibitor concentrations was noticed: in men from 22.5 . 10(3) AU/l to 4.5 . 10(3) AU/l and in women from 18.7 . 10(3) AU/l to 5.1 . 10(3 ) AU/l. However, the changes in the lipid and fibrinolytic quantities were not correlated with each other. Initial total cholesterol, I;DL c holesterol and triacylglycerol levels correlated significantly with sy stolic blood pressure, while diastolic pressure was correlated to tiss ue plasminogen activator. Since tissue plasminogen activator also was significantly related to triacylglycerols, a trias existed between pri mary risk factors like blood pressure, lipid levels and fibrinolysis. In contrast, the changes in these properties under the influence of ph ysical training were not interrelated. Median serum lipoprotein(a) con centrations were significantly increased in both men and women five da ys before the half marathon run: from 32 mg/l to 39 mg/l in men, and f rom 65 mg/l to 125.5 mg/l in women. Concomitantly, median fibrinogen c oncentrations were significantly elevated in men (from 2.32 g/l to 3.1 0 g/l and non-significantly in women (from 2.62 g/l to 2.93 g/l), alth ough no correlation existed between the changes in these properties. I n conclusion, the nine months exercise programme increased the aerobic fitness in both men and women as indicated by the W-max increase. Thi s improvement coincided but was not correlated with beneficial changes in several anthropometric, lipid and fibrinolytic properties. Improve ment in the risk factors under investigation was more pronounced in me n than in women. The changers in lipid and haemostasis properties did not correlate with each other. The increases in lipoprotein(a) and fib rinogen concentrations, both atherogenic indices, could actually prese nt a normal physiological response to the physical strain of exercise training of increasing workload.