Exercise Training Improves Plasma Lipid and Inflammatory Profiles and Increases Cholesterol Transfer to High-Density Lipoprotein in Elderly Women

Regular Practice of Physical Activity Improves Cholesterol Transfers to High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Other HDL Metabolic Parameters in Older Adults

The effects of regular physical activity on two important anti-atherosclerosis functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), namely its capacity to receive both forms of cholesterol and its anti-oxidant function, were investigated in this study comparing older adults with young individuals. One-hundred and eight healthy adult individuals were enrolled and separated into the following groups: active older (60-80 yrs, n = 24); inactive older (60-79 yrs, n = 21); active young (20-34 yrs, n = 39); and inactive young (20-35 yrs, n = 24). All performed cardiopulmonary tests. Blood samples were collected in order to assess the following measures: lipid profile, HDL anti-oxidant capacity, paraoxonase-1 activity, HDL subfractions, and lipid transfer to HDL. Comparing active older and active young groups with inactive older and inactive young groups, respectively, the active groups presented higher HDL-C levels (p < 0.01 for both comparisons), unesterified cholesterol transfer (p < 0.01, p < 0.05), and intermediate and larger HDL subfractions (p < 0.001, p < 0.01) than the respective inactive groups. In addition, the active young group showed higher esterified cholesterol transfer than the inactive young group (p < 0.05). As expected, the two active groups had higher VO2peak than the inactive groups; VO2peak was higher in the two younger than in the two older groups (p < 0.05). No differences in unesterified and esterified cholesterol transfers and HDL subfractions were found between active young and active older groups. HDL anti-oxidant capacity and paraoxonase-1 activity were equal in all four study groups. Our data highlight and strengthen the benefits of regular practice of physical activity on an important HDL function, the capacity of HDL to receive cholesterol, despite the age-dependent decrease in VO2peak.

Older Women Who Practiced Physical Exercises before the COVID-19 Pandemic Present Metabolic Alterations and Worsened Functional Physical Capacity after One Year of Social Isolation

Background: Because the consequences of the lifestyle changes in older adults associated with the social isolation imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are not fully understood, here, we investigated the effects of one year of social isolation imposed by COVID-19 on the metabolic parameters and functional physical capacity of older women who regularly practiced physical exercises before the pandemic. Methods: Systemic lipid and protein profiles, estimated creatinine clearance (ECC), and functional physical capacity (FPC) were assessed before (January-February 2020) and 12 months after social isolation in 30 older women (mean age 73.77 ± 6.22) who were engaged in a combined-exercise training program for at least 3 years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In this group, we observed increased plasma levels of triglycerides and creatinine, an increase in the time necessary to perform gait speed and time-up-and-go tests, and reduced muscle strength assessed by the handgrip test and ECC post-COVID-19 pandemic relative to values recorded pre-pandemic. In addition, we observed significant correlations (both negative and positive) between anthropometric, some metabolic parameters, and physical tests. Conclusion: One year of interruption of physical exercise practice imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered some systemic metabolic parameters and worsened ECC and FPC in older women.

Decrease in serum asprosin levels following six weeks of spinning and stationary cycling training in overweight women

OBJECTIVES

Secreted by white adipose tissue, asprosin is a newly recognized adipokine whose physiological function is not well comprehended. This study intended to determine the effect of spinning and stationary cycling on serum asprosin levels in overweight women.

METHODS

Forty-five overweight women with BMI>25 kg/m² in the age range of 30-40 years were assigned randomly to three groups of 15 participants: control, spinning (group cycling with music), and stationary bike (individual pedaling on a stationary bike). The participants performed the exercises three sessions per week for six weeks. Lipid profile and asprosin levels were measured by enzymatic and ELISA methods, respectively. Moreover, the paired t-test and one-way ANOVA were employed to make within-group and between-group comparisons, respectively.

RESULTS

The stationary cycling and spinning exercise groups experienced significant reductions in weight, BMI, serum triglyceride, and asprosin levels from the pretest to the posttest. The control group showed no statistically significant differences. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein only declined in the spinning group. In this regard, neither the control group nor the stationary bicycle exhibited no significant change over time. The spinning group demonstrated a significant rise in high-density lipoprotein levels, which was not observed in the control group. In addition, there was no significant difference in WHR index between the intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONS

By lowering the serum asprosin level, a spinning exercise program appears to be effective in reducing disorders linked to metabolic diseases in overweight women.

l-Glutamine supplementation enhances glutathione peroxidase and paraoxonase-1 activities in HDL of exercising older individuals

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is an important factor in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) harbors paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), key enzymes in the protection against the harmful effects of oxidative stress. Although exercise training can increase both HDL-c content and its antioxidant action, and glutamine (Gln) intake also promotes GPx-based defenses, the association between exercise training and Gln in the regulation of PON-1 activity was not explored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Gln supplementation on the redox balance and on the total HDL antioxidant capacity by evaluation of the activity of PON-1 and GPx enzymes in physically exercised elderly individuals compared to non-exercised ones.

METHODS

Fifty-one practitioners of a combined exercise training program (CET, age: 71.9 ± 5.7 years) and 32 non-practitioners (NP, age: 73 ± 6.3 years) participated in the study. CET and NP groups were separated into 2 subgroups according to the supplementation: Gln, 0.3 g/kg/day + 10 g maltodextrin (CET-Gln, n = 26; and NP-Gln, n = 16) or placebo, 10 g maltodextrin (CET-PL, n = 25; and NP-PL, n = 16). Blood samples were drawn at baseline and after 30 days after commencement of the supplementation for biochemical and enzyme activity analyses.

RESULTS

Increased HDL-c, total peroxidase (PRx), and GPx activities were found in both CET-Gln and NP-Gln after the supplementation period, compared to baseline, in opposition to CET-PL and NP-PL groups. PON-1 activity increased only in CET-Gln. In both CET-Gln and NP-Gln groups, there was a reduction of the total peroxides/PRx, iron/PRx, and total peroxides/GPX ratios after supplementation. In CET-Gln, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)/PRx and TBARS/GPx ratios were also lower after supplementation. CET-Gln and CET-PL subgroups had lower glycemia than NP-Gln and NP-PL, either at baseline or after the supplementation periods. The other parameters were unchanged after supplementation [total cholesterol, LDL-c, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol, total peroxides, TBARS, iron serum, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and uric acid].

CONCLUSIONS

Gln supplementation can increase glutathione peroxidase activity regardless the individuals were physically active or sedentary, but the PON-1 activity only increased in physically active individuals. These results show the potential of Gln supplementation in the maintenance of the vascular redox balance, with potential implications for atherogenesis protection.

Androgen deprivation therapy improves the in vitro capacity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to receive cholesterol and other lipids in patients with prostate carcinoma

Background

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is widely used in the treatment of testosterone-dependent prostate carcinomas. ADT often increases plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The aim was to test whether ADT changes the transfer of lipids to HDL, an important aspect of this metabolism and HDL protective functions, and related parameters.

Methods

Sixteen volunteers with advanced prostate carcinoma submitted to pharmacological ADT or orchiectomy had plasma collected shortly before and after 6 months of ADT. In vitro transfer of lipids to HDL was performed by incubating plasma with donor emulsion containing radioactive lipids by 1 h at 37 °C. After chemical precipitation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein, the radioactivity of HDL fraction was counted.

Results

ADT reduced testosterone to nearly undetectable levels and markedly diminished PSA. ADT increased the body weight but glycemia, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol, HDL lipid composition and CETP concentration were unchanged. However, ADT increased the plasma unesterified cholesterol concentration (48 ± 12 vs 56 ± 12 mg/dL, p = 0.019) and LCAT concentration (7.15 ± 1.81 vs 8.01 ± 1.55μg/mL, p = 0.020). Transfer of unesterified (7.32 ± 1.09 vs 8.18 ± 1.52%, p < 0.05) and esterified cholesterol (6.15 ± 0.69 vs 6.94 ± 1.29%, p < 0.01) and of triglycerides (6.37 ± 0.43 vs 7.18 ± 0.91%, p < 0.001) to HDL were increased after ADT. Phospholipid transfer was unchanged.

Conclusion

Increase in transfer of unesterified and esterified cholesterol protects against cardiovascular disease, as shown previously, and increased LCAT favors cholesterol esterification and facilitates the reverse cholesterol transport. Thus, our results suggest that ADT may offer anti-atherosclerosis protection by improving HDL functional properties. This could counteract, at least partially, the eventual worse effects on plasma lipids.

Combined Exercise Training Performed by Elderly Women Reduces Redox Indexes and Proinflammatory Cytokines Related to Atherogenesis

Cardiovascular benefits for the general population of combined aerobic-resistance exercise training are well-known, but the impact of this exercise training modality on the plasma lipid, inflammatory, and antioxidant status in elderly women that are exposed to a great risk of developing ischemic cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases has not been well investigated. So, we aimed to evaluate the plasma lipids, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines in 27 elderly women (TRAINED group, 69.1 ± 8.1 yrs) that were performing moderate intensity combined aerobic-resistance exercise training (3 times/week for at least 18 months) and in 27 sedentary elderly women (SED group, 72.0 ± 6.4 yrs), not submitted to exercise training for at least 5 yrs. Our results showed that BMI was lower in the TRAINED group than in the SED group (25.1 ± 3.2 vs. 28.7 ± 5.1, p < 0.05). The TRAINED group had lower glycemia (92 ± 3 vs. 118 ± 12, p < 0.05), glycated hemoglobin (5.9 ± 0.1 vs. 6.4 ± 0.2, p < 0.05), and triglycerides (98 (75-122) vs. 139 (109-214), p < 0.01); equal total cholesterol (199 (175-230) vs. 194 (165-220)), LDL-cholesterol (108 (83-133) vs. 109 (98-136)), and non-HDL-cholesterol (54 (30-74) vs. 62 (26-80)); and also higher HDL-cholesterol (64 (52-77) vs. 52 (44-63), p < 0.01) and LDL-C/oxLDL ratio (13378 ± 2570 vs. 11639 ± 3113, p < 0.05) compared to the SED group. Proinflammatory cytokines as IL-1β (11.31 ± 2.4 vs. 28.01 ± 4.7, p < 0.05), IL-6 (26.25 ± 7.4 vs. 49.41 ± 17.8, p < 0.05), and TNF-α (25.72 ± 2.8 vs. 51.73 ± 4.2, p < 0.05) were lower in the TRAINED group than in the SED group. The TRAINED group had lower total peroxides (26.3 ± 7.4 vs. 49.0 ± 17.8, p < 0.05) and oxidized LDL (1551 ± 50.33 vs. 1773 ± 74, p < 0.02) and higher total antioxidant capacity (26.25 ± 7.4 vs. 49.41 ± 17.8, p < 0.001) compared to the SED group. In conclusion, in TRAINED women, BMI was lower, plasma lipid profile was better, plasma oxidative stress was diminished, and there was less expression of proinflammatory interleukins than in SED, suggesting that combined aerobic-resistance exercise training may promote the protection against the complications of ischemic cardio- and cerebrovascular disease in elderly women.

Physical Activity and Sports-Real Health Benefits: A Review with Insight into the Public Health of Sweden

Positive effects from sports are achieved primarily through physical activity, but secondary effects bring health benefits such as psychosocial and personal development and less alcohol consumption. Negative effects, such as the risk of failure, injuries, eating disorders, and burnout, are also apparent. Because physical activity is increasingly conducted in an organized manner, sport’s role in society has become increasingly important over the years, not only for the individual but also for public health. In this paper, we intend to describe sport’s physiological and psychosocial health benefits, stemming both from physical activity and from sport participation per se. This narrative review summarizes research and presents health-related data from Swedish authorities. It is discussed that our daily lives are becoming less physically active, while organized exercise and training increases. Average energy intake is increasing, creating an energy surplus, and thus, we are seeing an increasing number of people who are overweight, which is a strong contributor to health problems. Physical activity and exercise have significant positive effects in preventing or alleviating mental illness, including depressive symptoms and anxiety- or stress-related disease. In conclusion, sports can be evolving, if personal capacities, social situation, and biological and psychological maturation are taken into account. Evidence suggests a dose–response relationship such that being active, even to a modest level, is superior to being inactive or sedentary. Recommendations for healthy sports are summarized.

Effects of arm swing exercise training on cardiac autonomic modulation, cardiovascular risk factors, and electrolytes in persons aged 60-80 years with prehypertension: A randomized controlled trial

Background/Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect and carry-over effect of arm swing exercise (ASE) training on cardiac autonomic modulation, cardiovascular risk factors, and blood electrolytes in older persons with prehypertension.

Methods

Subjects were 50 individuals with prehypertension (aged 66.90 ± 5.50 yr, body mass index 23.84 ± 3.65 kg/m²). They were randomly assigned into ASE group and control group. Subjects in the ASE group underwent an ASE training program for 3 months at a frequency of 30 min/day, 3 days/week. Subjects in the control group maintained their daily routine activities minus regular exercise. Blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular risk factors including blood glucose, lipid profile, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and electrolytes were evaluated on 3 occasions: before and after the 3-month intervention, and 1 month after intervention ended.

Results

Following the 3-month intervention, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and serum hsCRP concentration were significantly lower, while serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, potassium (K⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺) concentrations, standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (RMSSD) and high frequency (HF) power values were higher in the ASE group when compared with the control group (p < 0.05). At the 1-month follow-up interval, SBP and serum hsCRP concentration remained lower while serum HDL-cholesterol and K⁺ concentrations remained higher in the ASE group as compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

ASE training decreased SBP and serum hsCRP concentration, increased serum HDL-cholesterol, K⁺, and Mg²⁺ concentrations and increased RMSSD and HF power values in older persons with prehypertension. In addition, there were carry-over effects of ASE training i.e. decreased SBP and serum hsCRP concentration as well as increased serum HDL-cholesterol and K⁺ concentrations.

Effect of combined training on body composition and metabolic variables in people living with HIV: A randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to conduct a randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of 16 weeks of combined training on body composition, lipid profile, adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and leptin levels in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

METHODS

Fifty-eight HIV-infected individuals were randomized into a training group (T) or a control group (C). Combined training consisted of aerobic and resistance exercises performed at the same training session, applied at a frequency of three times a week for a total of 16 weeks. Waist circumference, body mass, body fat percentage (%fat), fat mass, lipid profile, adiponectin, CRP, and leptin levels were measured pre- and post-training in both groups.

RESULTS

Sixteen weeks of combined training decreased (P < 0.05) body fat in different body segments in PLWHA. Lipodystrophic PLWHA experienced greater reduction in body fat in the android region than non-lipodystrophic PLWHA after combined training. Lipid profile and circulating levels of adiponectin, leptin, and CRP remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Sixteen weeks of combined training was effective to reduce body fat in different body segments, without altering plasma lipid and cytokine levels.

Lipid transfers to HDL are diminished in long-term bedridden patients: association with low HDL-cholesterol and increased inflammatory markers

Plasma lipids have been extensively studied in sedentary and in subjects practicing exercise training, but not in extreme inactivity as occurs in bedridden patients. This is important for the care of bedridden patients and understanding the overall plasma lipid regulation. Here, we investigated plasma lipids, lipid transfers to HDL and inflammatory markers in bedridden patients. Fasting blood samples were collected from 23 clinically stable bedridden patients under long-term care (>90 days) and 26 normolipidemic sedentary subjects, paired for age and gender. In vitro transfer of four lipids to HDL was performed by incubating plasma with donor nanoparticles containing radioactive lipids. Total (193 ± 36 vs 160 ± 43, p = 0.005), LDL (124 ± 3 vs 96 ± 33 p = 0.003) and HDL-cholesterol (45 ± 10 vs 36 ± 13, p = 0.008), apolipoprotein A-I (134 ± 20 vs 111 ± 24, p = 0.001) and oxidized LDL (53 ± 13 vs 43 ± 12, p = 0.011) were lower in bedridden patients, whereas triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, CETP and LCAT were equal in both groups. Transfers of all lipids, namely unesterified cholesterol, cholesterol esters, triglycerides and phospholipids, to HDL were lower in bedridden patients, probably due to their lower HDL-cholesterol levels. Concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, HGF and NGF were higher in bedridden patients compared to sedentary subjects. In conclusion, inactivity had great impact on HDL, by lowering HDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I and thereby cholesterol transfers to the lipoprotein, which suggests that inactivity may deteriorate HDL protection beyond the ordinary sedentary condition.