Endurance Exercise TVaining Reduces Lp-PLA2 in Young White Adults

INTRODUCTION: High levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) have been identified as a risk factor for CHD. Endurance exercise training (EET) generally has positive effects on plasma lipids and biomarkers of inflammation. PURPOSE: To study its effect on Lp-PLA2. METHODS: Subjects were 706 participants in the biracial and two generational HERITAGE Family Study. Fasting plasma samples were drawn in the morning before and following 20 weeks of EET and analyzed for Lp-PLA2. EET was conducted 3 days/week and started at 55% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) for 30 min/day. Intensity and duration were increased every 2 weeks up to 75% of VO2max and 50 min per session for the last 6 weeks. Duplicate measures of VO2max were obtained both pre- and post-training. Summary of RESULTS: VO2max increased by 17.6 ± 9.5% (mean ± SD) for the total sample demonstrating a substantial training response. Women had a greater percentage increase than men, but the increase for the total sample was independent of race and age. Lp-PLA2 decreased 4.0% (p<0.0001) from 275.7 ± 88.8 to 264.8 ± 85.9 ug/L in the total sample, and was unrelated to the change in total mass and fat mass. The decrease was substantially greater in whites (4.6%, p<0.0001) than in blacks (2.1%, p=0.16); in sons (4.1%, p=0.003) than in fathers (1.8%, p=0.38); and in daughters (5.6%, p<0.0001) than in mothers (3.0%, p=0.13). CONCLUSIONS: EET decreased Lp-PLA2 by 4.0% in the total sample. The decrease in Lp-PLA2 was demonstrated in whites, predominantly in the younger generation, but not in blacks. There were no differences in Lp-PLA2 changes by sex.