PLASMA-LIPID, LIPOPROTEIN AND APOLIPOPROTEIN PROFILES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETES AND NONATHLETES

The fasting plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles were determined in 14 healthy Nigerian male athletes and controls matched for sex and anthropometric parameters. The mean levels of total choles terol (P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apolipopr otein (ape) All and E were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the athle tes than in the controls. However, there were no statistically signifi cant differences (P > 0.05) between the mean values of the plasma trig lycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotei n (VLDL) cholesterol, ape AI, B, Lp(a), LpA1 and CIII:NonB respectivel y for the athletes and controls. A priori, the potential effect on car diovascular disease (CVD) risk was also compared using three predictor ratios - total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol (TC:HDL), LDL cholesterol : HDL cholesterol and ape B:AI. The mean of the three ratios was lower in the athletes than in the controls; however, the differences were n ot statistically significant (P > 0.05). Based on our data, exercise a ppears to decrease the TC:HDL ratio in the athletes by lowering LDL-ch olesterol, while the HDL-cholesterol is unaffected. We conclude that p hysical activity has salutary effects on the lipid, lipoprotein and ap olipoprotein profiles of healthy Nigerian men.