George A. Kelley, DA¹, Kristi S. Kelley, MEd¹, and Zung Vu Tran, PhD². (1) School of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, 304-293-6279, gkelley@hsc.wvu.edu, (2) Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in older adult humans. METHODS: Studies were retrieved via computer searches, cross-referencing from review and retrieved articles, and consultation with an expert on exercise, lipids, and lipoproteins. Studies were limited to randomized controlled trials published between January 1955 and January 2003 and of which aerobic exercise lasting for at least 8 weeks was the only intervention in adults ages 50 years of age and older. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies representing 51 groups (28 exercise, 23 control) and 417 subjects (234 exercise, 183 control) met our criteria for inclusion. Using a random-effects model, statistically significant improvements [mean +/- standard error and 95% confidence intervals (CI)] were found for total cholesterol (-3.3 +/- 1.7 mg/dl, 95% CI, -6.5 to -0.01 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.6 +/- 0.9 mg/dl, 95% CI, 0.7 to 4.5 mg/dl), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-3.9 +/- 1.9 mg/dl, 95% CI, -7.7 to -0.1 mg/dl), with no statistically significant changes observed for triglycerides (-6.9 +/- 3.6 mg/dl, 95% CI, -14.0 to 0.1 mg/dl). However, with each study deleted from the model once, only the range of changes for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained statistically significant (low, 2.1 +/- 0.8 mg/dl, 95% CI, 0.4 to 3.8 mg/dl; high, 3.3 +/- 1.2 mg/dl, 95% CI, 0.9 to 5.7 mg/dl). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that aerobic exercise increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in older adults.

Learning Objectives:

(
• describe the effects of aerobic exercise on selected lipids and lipoproteins in older adults, (
• list and describe the effects of potential effect modifiers and mediators on aerobic exercise-induced changes in selected lipids and lipoproteins in older adults, (
• identify areas for future research in relation to the effects of aerobic exercise on selected lipids and lipoproteins in older adults.

Keywords: Exercise, Cholesterol

Related Web page: None

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.