Hernaez, AlvaroSoria-Florido, Maria TrinidadCastaner, OlgaPinto, XavierEstruch, RamonSalas-Salvado, JordiCorella, DoloresAlonso-Gomez, AngelAngel Martinez-Gonzalez, MiguelSchroder, HelmutRos, EmilioSerra-Majem, LluisFiol, MiguelLapetra, JoseGomez-Gracia, EnriqueFito, MontserratLassale, Camille2023-02-122023-02-122020-06-022047-4873http://hdl.handle.net/10668/19106AimsPhysical activity has consistently been shown to improve cardiovascular health and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. However, only small and heterogeneous studies have investigated the effect of exercise on high-density lipoprotein functions. Our aim is to evaluate, in the largest observational study to date, the association between leisure time physical activity and a range of high-density lipoprotein functional traits.MethodsThe study sample consisted of 296 Spanish adults at high cardiovascular risk. Usual leisure time physical activity and eight measures of high-density lipoprotein functionality were averaged over two measurements, one year apart. Multivariable linear regression models were used to explore the association between leisure time physical activity (exposure) and each high-density lipoprotein functional trait (outcome), adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.ResultsHigher levels of leisure time physical activity were positively and linearly associated with average levels over one year of plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, paraoxonase-1 antioxidant activity, high-density lipoprotein capacity to esterify cholesterol and cholesterol efflux capacity in individuals free of type 2 diabetes only. The increased cholesterol esterification index with increasing leisure time physical activity reached a plateau at around 300 metabolic equivalents.min/day. In individuals with diabetes, the relationship with cholesteryl ester transfer protein followed a U-shape, with a decreased cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity from 0 to 300 metabolic equivalents.min/day, but increasing from there onwards. Increasing levels of leisure time physical activity were associated with poorer high-density lipoprotein vasodilatory capacity.ConclusionsIn a high cardiovascular risk population, leisure time physical activity was associated not only with greater circulating levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, but also with better markers of high-density lipoprotein functionality, namely cholesterol efflux capacity, the capacity of high-density lipoprotein to esterify cholesterol and paraoxonase-1 antioxidant activity in individuals free of diabetes and lower cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity in individuals with type 2 diabetes.enHDL functionphysical activitylifestylebiomarkersHigh-density-lipoproteinActivity questionnaireHeart-diseaseExerciseAmpkCholesterolValidationProteinEventsresearch articleopen access10.1177/20474873209256252047-4881https://accedacris.ulpgc.es/jspui/bitstream/10553/73254/1/leisure_time_physical.pdf537487500001