Effects Of Acute Aerobic Exercise On The Lipid Profiles In Transgender Men

Abstract

PURPOSE: Many transgender men are treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, known side effects include decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and elevated triglyceride (TG) levels. Moreover, there is an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which may be reduced by aerobic exercise. In this study, we analyzed the effects of acute aerobic exercise on lipid profiles in transgender men. Further, we compared transgender men with men and women based on resting lipid profiles. METHODS: Thirty participants, including 10 transgender men (28.0 ± 3.9 years), 10 men (24.6 ± 3.4 years), and 10 women (25.1 ± 3.0 years), performed aerobic exercise at 50% heart rate reserve for 30 minutes using a treadmill. Body composition was measured using the multi frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Blood estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, free testosterone, and lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], and TG levels) were determined before (pre), immediately after (IP), and 60 minutes after exercise (post-60). RESULTS: Pre-serum testosterone concentration was significantly higher in transgender men (5.8 ± 2.4 ng/mL) and men (6.8 ± 1.6 ng/mL) than women (0.3 ± 0.1 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Pre-serum TC concentration was significantly higher in transgender men (206.6 ± 24.4 mg/dL) than men (149.9 ± 31.4 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and cisgender (177.8 ± 17.6 mg/dL; p < 0.05). Pre-serum LDL-C concentration was significantly higher in transgender men (129.5 ± 22.9 mg/dL) than men (89.5 ± 25.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and women (95.2 ± 13.9 mg/dL; p < 0.01). The rate of change observed in LDL-C at pre, IP and post60 showed no significant differences across transgender men (pre-IP: 104.5 ± 4.0 %, pre-post60: 97.9 ± 2.4 %), men (pre-IP: 104.5 ± 3.4 %, pre-post60: 97.7 ± 3.4 %) and women (pre-IP: 103.4 ± 3.9 %, pre-post60: 98.6 ± 3.0 %). Further, TC, HDL-C, and TG levels at pre, IP and post-60 were not significantly different across transgender men, men and women. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, pre-TC and LDL-C levels in transgender men were higher than those in men and women; however, it is suggested that acute aerobic exercise does not affect the lipid profile in transgender men.