Minor changes in blood lipids after 6 weeks of high-volume low-intensity physical activity with strict energy balance control

Stefan Branth, Anders Mikael Sjödin, Anders Forslund, Leif Hambraeus, Ulf Holmbäck*

*Corresponding author for this work
7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Physical activity has been shown to favorably affect metabolic risk markers, including blood lipids. The impact of high-energy turnover, without influencing the traditionally used markers of exercise training effects, on blood lipids is still unclear. The aim was to study the effect of high-volume low-intensity physical activity on the blood lipid pattern, with a tight control of diet and energy balance. Eight untrained men [42.5 (12.1) years, body mass index 24.2 (2.8) kg m-2] were tested in two different 6-week protocols. In the sedentary protocol, the subjects were instructed to limit their everyday physical activity. In the activity protocol, a 2-h physical activity bout was performed 5 days week-1 (∼40% of VO2max; equivalent of an additional 21 MJ week-1 in energy expenditure). The diet for both protocols comprised ∼40 energy percent (E%) fat, ∼50 E% carbohydrates (CHO). The polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids ratio of the diet was ∼0.12. There were no changes during each 6-week period or differences between the two protocols in body weight, body composition or aerobic capacity. Low-intensity physical activity did not affect lipid parameters substantially, except for a slightly lower Apo-B/Apo-A1 ratio with the activity protocol (P < 0.05). Total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as Apo-B and Apo-A1, were increased during the beginning of each 6-week period (P < 0.05), but returned to basal levels by the sixth week. In conclusion, 6 weeks of high-volume low-intensity physical activity did not affect blood lipids substantially.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume96
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)315-321
Number of pages7
ISSN1439-6319
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cholesterol
  • Energy turnover
  • Exercise volume

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