Abstract

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise (running) performed regularly for eight weeks without a special diet on blood lipid and lipoprotein levels. Twenty non-smoker, moderately active young volunteer men who were not on a special diet (Training Group = 10 and Control Group = 10) participated in the study. Training group performed aerobic exercise at target heart beat rate of 60 to 70% for 1 h/day for 4 days per week during 8 week-trial. Blood samples were taken at rest before and after the training period. Lipid and lipoprotein measurements were done with enzymatic method on auto-analyzer. Maximal oxygen uptake in the training group significantly increased after the experimental period, while body fat percentages did not change in both groups. The plasma levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) increased in training group and decreased in control group, while levels of high density-cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased in both groups being statistically significant only in training group. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were not affected by the training program. In conclusion, a short term (8 weeks) aerobic exercise program performed without a special diet in moderately active young men may be considered as insufficient to make favorable effects on blood lipid profile.

Key words: Running exercise, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides.