LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND EXERCISE

Plasma levels of lipoprotein(a), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoprotein A1 and apoprotein B were ass essed in 10 healthy, untrained volunteers subjected to a bicycle ergom etric exercise equal to 50% of individual VO2max, followed by increasi ng loads until muscular exhaustion. Blood samples were taken before th e exercise, immediately afterwards and then at 12-hourly intervals for a 72 hours period. Subsequently the same parameters were evaluated fo r 8 long-distance runners during the XXIII New York Marathon, with blo od samples being taken before and after the race, and then after one m onth of detraining. After the exercise, lipoprotein(a) in untrained su bjects began to decrease significantly from the 24th hour on and remai ned lower than baseline levels up till the 72nd hour. After detraining , lipoprotein(a) in marathon runners increased significantly both with respect to basal values and especially to post-race values. Modificat ions of the other metabolic parameters evaluated in both tests were ne gligible and predictable. In the two groups of subjects examined, no c orrelation was found between lipoprotein (a) and the anthropometrical data and metabolic parameters considered.