LIPOPROTEIN(A) IN ENDURANCE ATHLETES, POWER ATHLETES, AND SEDENTARY CONTROLS

Elevated concentrations of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] have been shown to b e an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Physical act ivity and physical fitness have been shown to improve lipoprotein meta bolism and reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Studies on the influence of physical activity and physical fitness on Lp(a) levels in cluding a large number of endurance as well as power athletes have not been performed before. Therefore, we determined parameters of physica l fitness (maximal oxygen consumption), physical activity, and lipopro teins in 105 endurance athletes, 57 power athletes, and 87 sedentary y oung men. As expected, we found that endurance athletes with a good ph ysical fitness had significantly higher concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than power athletes and sedentary controls. R egarding mean Lp(a) levels (rocket immunoelectrophoresis), however, th ere were no significant differences between endurance athletes, power athletes, and sedentary controls. Even when including only those with Lp(a) values >10 mg . dl(-1), no differences were observed between the groups. These findings indicate that intensive training over years an d good aerobic fitness improve the ratio of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but have no or only minor effect s on Lp(a) concentrations.