Optimal Aerobic Exercise Regimens for Improving HDL Levels in Older, Healthy Males
High-density lipoprotein levels are predictive of future cardiovascular events even in healthy individuals. Exercise has been found to improve HDL levels, but most of these studies focus on younger males or on older subjects with pre-existing cholesterol issues, and the findings offer conflicted results. Our aim in the present study was to distinguish the impact, if any, of various intensity, frequency, and duration combinations of aerobic exercise on HDL levels in healthy males 45 years and older, to the previous research on younger or diseased subjects. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched for all articles containing the keywords, “aerobic training/exercise” and “HDL” and “healthy, older/elderly men/males.” A total of 38 studies were included in the review. The studies were classified by intensity and statistical change from baseline HDL, then compared by frequency and duration. Too few low intensity articles were retrieved to compare. High intensity exercise 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes for a training period of at least 12 weeks appeared most consistently effective in raising HDL. In conclusion, in healthy males, aged 45 and up, high intensity exercise for at a moderate frequency and duration prove most beneficial to HDL levels than more intense training programs or more conservative ones.
Hyperlipidemia, Aerobic Exercise, Cardiovascular Disease, Healthy Aging
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