SERUMTRIGLYZERIDE ALS DISKRIMINIERENDER FAKTOR FUR DIE ZAHL ATHEROGENER LIPOPROTEINPARTIKEL BEI GESUNDEN MANNERN MIT UNTERSCHIEDLICHEM KORPERGEWICHT UND KORPERLICHER FITNESS

Recently a lipoprotein pattern of reduced HDL₂ cholesterol and increased small dense LDL particles has been shown to be prevalent in coronary heart disease patients. Especially hypertriglyceridemia is associated with this lipoprotein risk profile. Reductions in body weight and improvement of physical fitness are known to reduce triglyceride levels and improve lipoprotein subfractions. In order to characterize healthy individuals with an atherogenic lipoprotein risk profile especially in relation to triglycerides, physical fitness and body weight, we assessed body mass index (BMI) and maximum oxygen consumptions and determined HDL and LDL subfractions by density gradient ultracentrifugation in 133 healthy young men. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that even moderately elevated triglycerides above 100 mg/dl were associated with higher apo B concentrations of small dense LDL with a density above 1.044 g/ml and reduced HDL₂ cholesterol. Physical fitness and BMI had no influence on the lipoprotein subfraction pattern of individuals with low serum triglycerides, but both improved the risk profile in hypertriglyceridemia. Therefore, improvement of lipoprotein metabolism by increment of exercise activity and reduction of body weight seems only effective in individuals with insulin resistance or impaired lipid enzyme activities resembled by elevated triglyceride levels.