Increased blood cholesterol after a high saturated fat diet is prevented by aerobic exercise training.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a 2-week high saturated fatty acids diet (HSFAD) induces hyperlipemia or insulin resistance in overweight, inactive individuals and if aerobic exercise counteracts these effects.
Results Summary
The HSFAD increased total cholesterol and LDL-C in the diet-only group, but these effects were prevented by concurrent aerobic exercise, which also improved cardiorespiratory fitness and lowered systolic blood pressure. Body weight, composition, and insulin sensitivity remained unchanged in both groups.
Population
Overweight (BMI 27.5 ± 0.6 kg·m⁻²), healthy, young individuals (aged 24.8 ± 1.8 years).
Effective Dosage
Increased dietary saturated fatty acids from 31 ± 10 to 52 ± 14 g·day⁻¹.
Duration
14 days.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A high saturated fatty acids diet (HSFAD) | decrease | metabolic and cardiovascular health | - | - | deteriorates | #1 |
aerobic training | increase | metabolic and cardiovascular health | - | - | improves | #2 |
2 weeks of HSFAD | increase | hyperlipemia or insulin resistance | physically inactive and overweight people | - | leads to | #3 |
concurrent aerobic exercise training | decrease | hyperlipemia or insulin resistance | physically inactive and overweight people | - | counteracts | #4 |
14 days of HSFAD | increase | total cholesterol (T(C)) | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D group) | 147 ± 8 to 161 ± 9 mg·dL(-1) | increased | #5 |
14 days of HSFAD | increase | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D group) | 71 ± 10 to 82 ± 10 mg·dL(-1) | increased | #6 |
concurrent aerobic exercise training | no change | total cholesterol (T(C)) | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D + E group) | 153 ± 20 to 157 ± 24 mg·dL(-1) | remained unchanged | #7 |
concurrent aerobic exercise training | no change | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D + E group) | 71 ± 21 to 70 ± 25 mg·dL(-1) | remained unchanged | #8 |
concurrent aerobic exercise training | decrease | systolic blood pressure | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D + E group) | 6 ± 2 mm Hg | lowered | #9 |
concurrent aerobic exercise training | increase | VO(2peak) | overweight, healthy, young individuals (D + E group) | 6 ± 2 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) | increased | #10 |
14 days of HSFAD | no change | body weight and composition | overweight, healthy, young individuals (both groups) | - | remained unchanged | #11 |
14 days of HSFAD | no change | plasma free fatty acids composition and concentration | overweight, healthy, young individuals (both groups) | - | remained unchanged | #12 |
14 days of HSFAD | no change | insulin sensitivity | overweight, healthy, young individuals (both groups) | - | remained unchanged | #13 |
A high saturated fatty acids diet (HSFAD) deteriorates metabolic and cardiovascular health while aerobic training improves them. The aim of this study was to investigate in physically inactive and overweight people if 2 weeks of HSFAD leads to hyperlipemia or insulin resistance and if concurrent aerobic exercise training counteracts those effects. Fourteen overweight (body mass index, 27.5 ± 0.6 kg·m(-2)), healthy, young individuals (aged 24.8 ± 1.8 years) were randomly assigned to a diet (D) or a diet plus exercise (D + E) group. During 14 consecutive days both groups increased dietary saturated fatty acids from 31 ± 10 to 52 ± 14 g·day(-1) (p < 0.001) while maintaining total fat intake. Concurrent to the diet, the D + E group underwent 11 cycle-ergometer sessions of 55 min at 60% peak oxygen uptake (V˙O(2peak)). Before and after intervention, insulin sensitivity and body composition were estimated, and blood lipids, resting blood pressure, and VO(2peak) were measured. Body weight and composition, plasma free fatty acids composition and concentration, and insulin sensitivity remained unchanged in both groups. However, post-intervention total cholesterol (T(C)) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased above pre-intervention values in the D group (147 ± 8 to 161 ± 9 mg·dL(-1), p = 0.018 and 71 ± 10 to 82 ± 10 mg·dL(-1), p = 0.034, respectively). In contrast, in the D + E group, T(C) and LDL-C remained unchanged (153 ± 20 to 157 ± 24 mg·dL(-1) and 71 ± 21 to 70 ± 25 mg·dL(-1)). Additionally, the D + E group lowered systolic blood pressure (6 ± 2 mm Hg, p = 0.029) and increased VO(2peak) (6 ± 2 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), p = 0.020). Increases in T(C) and LDL-C concentration induced by 14 days of HSFAD can be prevented by concurrent aerobic exercise training, which, in addition, improves cardiorespiratory fitness.