Red blood cell cholesterol levels, plasma cholesterol esterification rate and serum lipids and lipoproteins in men with hypercholesterolaemia and normal men during 16 weeks physical training

Abstract

Eight men with hypercholesterolaemia and 10 normal men participated in a 16-week physical training programme. Red blood cell cholesterol (RBC-C) levels, plasma cholesterol esterification rate (CER), serum lipoprotein lipid concentrations and dietary intake were measured during the programme. Whilst mean plasma CER was not significantly different between patients with hypercholesterolaemia and normal men, the mean fractional plasma cholesterol esterification rate was significantly lower in the patients throughout the study. Plasma CER increased and RBC-C levels decreased significantly in both the patients and the normal men. These changes were inversely correlated in the normal men. Serum cholesteryl esters and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased with training, particularly in the patients. Our results in normal men are consistent with the concept that the lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) enzyme is involved in the transport of cholesterol from peripheral cells in vivo.