The relationship of physical activity to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in a sample of community-dwelling older adults from Amazonas, Brazil

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2017 Nov:73:195-198. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.08.004. Epub 2017 Aug 10.

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To study the relation of physical activity (PA) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and (2) to investigate if the strength of these associations holds after adjustments for sex, age, and other key correlates.

Methods: This study included 550 older adults from Amazonas. HDL-C was derived from fasting blood samples. PA at sport and leisure, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status (SES) were interviewed. Waist circumference (WACI) was assessed.

Results: HDL-C was positively related to PA sport, PA leisure, and SES (0.22≤r≤0.34; p≤0.001) and negatively related to smoking and WACI (r≤-0.10; p<0.05). Controlling for sex and age did not affect these relationships. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the relation of HDL-C to PA sport and leisure remained significant when controlling for all other investigated correlates (0.14≤β≤0.24; p≤0.001).

Discussion: In order to prevent low HDL-C in older adults, promoting PA seems to be an important additional component besides common recommendations concerning weight reduction.

Keywords: Body fat distribution; Dyslipidemia; Modifiable behavior patterns; Socioeconomic status.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Smoking
  • Social Class
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL