RELATIONSHIP OF BODY-COMPOSITION AND CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS TO LIPOPROTEIN LIPID PROFILES IN MASTER ATHLETES AND SEDENTARY MEN

A number of studies demonstrate that highly conditioned older athletes are leaner than their sedentary counterparts, and have lipoprotein pr ofiles similar to that of young individuals. It is not clear whether t he high maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2)max) or lean body habitus is th e major determinant of the favorable lipoprotein lipid profiles presen t in older athletes. The objective of this study was to determine whet her body composition or VO(2)max was the major determinant of lipoprot ein lipid profiles among 61 master (age 63+/-6 years, mean +/-SD) athl etes (VO(2)max > 40 mL/kg/min), 39 age-matched lean (% body fat <25%), and 51 obese (% body fat >25%) sedentary men. Plasma high density lip oprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were 25% higher in the ath letes than in the lean sedentary men, and 42% higher than in the obese sedentary men, Triglyceride (TG) concentrations were 24% lower in the master athletes than in the lean sedentary men, and 51% lower than in the obese sedentary group. Plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were 9% lower in the athletes than in the other two gr oups of sedentary individuals. In stepwise multiple regression analysi s the percent body felt was the major independent predictor of HDL-C a nd TG levels accounting for 29% and 41% of the variation in these leve ls, respectively. The VO(2)max accounted for an additional 6% of the v ariance in HDL-C levels and 2% of the variance in TG levels. These cro ss-sectional results suggest that the favorable lipoprotein profile of master athletes is largely due to their lean body habitus, with a sma ll independent contribution from their higher level of cardiovascular fitness. Thus, regular vigorous aerobic exercise and maintenance of lo w body fat may prevent the commonly observed age-associated deteriorat ion in lipoprotein concentrations. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.