Exercise training induced alterations in prepubertal children's lipid-lipoprotein profile

Purpose: This study examined the effect of exercise training on prepubertal children's (ET, N = 28) lipid-lipoprotein profile, relative to a maturity matched control group (CON, N = 20). Methods: Training for ET involved stat ionary cycling for 30 min, 3 times.wk(-1) for 12 wk, at 79.3 +/- 1.2% (mean +/- SD) peak heart rate (HR). Controls maintained their usual lifestyle pa ttern. Plasma concentrations of total triacylglycerol (TG), total cholester ol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesrerol (HDL-C) were determ ined pre- and postintervention. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- cholesterol (LDL-C) was subsequently estimated from these concentrations, and the ratio s TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were also calculated. There were no pretest diff erences (P > 0.05) for any of these blood analytes between groups. The foll owing, potentially, confounding variables were also measured: peak (V) over dot O-2 percent body fat (%BF), dietary composition, and habitual physical activity. These variables, with pretest HDL-C, were included as covariates in two-way split plot ANCOVA analyses. Dietary variables were not included as covariates as they were not related to any of the blood analytes. Resul ts: There were no differences over time or between groups for TG and TC (P > 0.05). LDL-C decreased in ET (-10.2%) but remained unchanged in CON (0.3% ) over the intervention period (P < 0.05). HDL-C increased in ET (9.3%) but decreased in CON (-8.9%) (P < 0.01). A similar, but inverted, pattern of c hange (P < 0.01) was revealed for both ratios, TC/HDL-C (-11.6% vs 6.3%, ET and CON, respectively), and LDL-C/HDL-C (-17.2% vs 8.0%, ET and CON, respe ctively). The favorable alterations in the lipid-lipoprotein profile for ET were independent of alterations in peak (V) over dot O-2, (group X time in teraction, P < 0.05), %BF (main effect time, P < 0.01), and habitual physic al activity (group X time interaction, P < 0.01). Conclusions: In conclusio n, the favorable alterations in the lipoprotein profile seen in this study would suggest that it is possible to influence the prepubertal lipoprotein profile independent of alterations in confounding variables such as body co mposition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and habitual physical activity.