ABSTRACT
I. Introduction................................................................................. 259 II. Lipid Metabolism........................................................................ 260
A. Metabolism of Lipids during Exercise ................................ 261 III. Effects of Exercise on Lipids...................................................... 261
A. Cross-Sectional Studies ......................................................... 261 B. Effects of Chronic Exercise ................................................... 262 C. Effects of Acute Exercise....................................................... 265 D. Effects of Exercise on Other Lipid Parameters ................... 271
IV. Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on Lipids ............................. 273 V. Female Athletes with Amenorrhea ............................................ 273
VI. Methodological Considerations Prior to Lipid Assessment .... 274 VII. Methods ....................................................................................... 275
VIII. Lipid Level Recommendations .................................................. 276 IX. Summary...................................................................................... 277
References ............................................................................................. 278
One of the many benefits enjoyed by athletes who participate in regular activity and exercise is the effect on lipid metabolism and the resultant favorable changes in serum lipids. Common assessment of serum lipids consists of a full lipid profile, which includes total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (which assesses cholesterol present in all HDL subparticles such as HDL
and HDL
) and triglycerides (TG). Other lipid parameters that may be of use in an assessment are apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein A (apo A) and LDL particle size. Emerging evidence has also indicated effects
of exercise on lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL), (Lp(a)), oxidized LDL-C (ox-LDL-C), lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP). Athletes and individuals who exercise regularly commonly present with a more favourable lipid profile than their inactive counterparts.
