Lipoprotein lipase activity and plasma triglyceride clearance are elevated in endurance-trained women

Abstract

Numerous studies have examined factors regulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in male endurance athletes, but few studies have examined HDL-C regulation in female athletes. The present study compared lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, postheparin lipolytic activities, and the clearance rate ( K 2) of triglycerides following an intravenous fat infusion in 12 female distance runners (aged 33 ± 9 years, mean ± SD) and 13 sedentary women (33 ± 9 years). Runners were leaner and had greater maximum oxygen uptake values than controls. Runners also had nonsignificantly lower triglyceride (53 ± 15 v 65 ± 13 mg/dL) and higher HDL-C (62 ± 14 v 52 ± 8 mg/dL, P = .06). Lipoprotein lipase activity (LPLA) was 33% greater ( P < .05) and fat clearance ( K 2) was 27% faster ( P < .01) in the trained women, and LPLA correlated directly with K 2 ( r = .61) and HDL-C ( r = .62) in this group ( P < .05 for both). K 2 was directly related to HDL-C in the athletes ( r = .57, P = .06), and also when the active and sedentary women were combined ( r = .43, P < .05). These results suggest that increased LPLA and enhanced plasma triglyceride clearance may contribute to the HDL-C levels of physically active premenopausal women.