INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL WORK ON HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RISK OF CORONARY HEART-DISEASE

Physically trained individuals differ greatly from untrained counterpa rts in their high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol blood levels. Such differences in turn may have implications for long-term preventiv e policies in coronary artery disease. In prospective studies, exercis e programs in men, but seldom in women, have been shown to independent ly raise HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in the blood. This evi dence is of major interest because of the voluminous epidemiologic evi dence for low blood levels of HDL-C as a risk factor for coronary hear t disease. Experimental evidence is still missing to establish the eff icacy of elevating blood HDL-C concentrations in actually reducing the risk of incident, or recurrent, coronary events. If the efficacy of e levating blood levels of HDL-C in ameliorating coronary prognosis is d emonstrated, the recommendation for hygienic means, primarily physical exercise, will be reinforced. The role of physical training in elevat ing blood HDL-C is examined and plausible mechanisms for the observed experimental results are reviewed.