Cholesterol, Lipoproteins, and Triglyceride Before, During, and After an Ultramarathon Road Race

Abstract

Endurance-trained individuals generally have lower cholesterol and triglyceride and higher high-density lipoprotein concentrations than do their sedentary counterparts. It is not clear how much of the reported differences in lipid values are attributable to an acute residual influence of the most recent exercise session. Five endurance-trained men had their total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) determined before, during an ultramarathon road race (after 20, 30, and 50 miles) and 30 minutes and 18 hours after the race. Only LDL was significantly changed during the race (lower after 30 and 50 miles), however, a significant decline in TC (14%), LDL (16%), and TG (26%) concentrations were observed 18 hours after the ultramarathon road race. These findings concur with others demonstrating that exercise can have an acute influence (the day after exercise) on changing blood lipid concentrations. Factors influential to inducing acute postexercise changes and potential implications are discussed.