Reduced mildly oxidized LDL in young female athletes

We investigated the effect of physical activity and sports participation on LDL oxidation in vivo and on lipid risk factors in 183 teenage gills (9-15 years): 64 gymnasts, 61 runners, and 58 controls. Oxidized LDL was measure d as baseline levels of conjugated dienes in LDL lipids (ox-LDL). The gymna sts had a 15% lower ratio of LDL conjugated dienes to LDL cholesterol (ox-L DL:LDL ratio, P = 0.0052) compared to controls, and the difference persiste d when the body mass index was included as a covariate (ANCOVA, P = 0.013). Also, the gymnasts had a 12% higher ratio of HDL cholesterol to total chol esterol than the controls (ANCOVA, P = 0.046). There were no differences in the other common lipid risk factors between the groups. The ox-LDL:LDL rat io correlated negatively with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.23, P = 0.0021) and w ith physical activity METs (multiples of resting metabolic rate) (r = - 0.2 1, P = 0.0040). Our study strengthens the evidence that the atherogenic ris k is influenced favourably by physical exercise and sporting activities as early as in adolescents. This risk reduction is associated with lower mildl y oxidized LDL in adolescent girls. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.