Effects of endurance versus strength training programs in the lipid profile of sedentary young adults

Abstract

Introduction Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality in the world, and abnormal blood lipids are an important risk factors for these disease (Stampfer et al., 2000). Thus, controlling this risk factor, particularly cholesterol and triglycerides levels is essential (Curb et al., 2004). It is consensual that physical activity contributes to healthy lipidic levels (Haskell, 1984), however, it is not clear which type of exercise training is the best to this end. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of aerobic vs. strength training in total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TGL) levels of young adults. Methods The sample was randomly clustered into three groups: the aerobic training group (N=32), the strength training group (N=28) and the control group (N=21). All participants were sedentary college students (young adults) and were similar age and height. The aerobic and strength training programs comprised a period of 14 weeks, with three sessions/week for 1 hour. Three evaluations were performed (initial, 7weeks and 14weeks), in which body composition was measured and unstimulated whole saliva was collected using the drooling technique. Salivary cholesterol and triglyceride were assessed by colorimetric methods. Results Comparison evidenced that the strength group showed a decrease in TC over the 14 weeks. On the contrary, the control group showed an increase in TC (p=0,017). These contributed to the observed differences in TC between strength and control groups after the 14 weeks (p=0,035). Regarding the TGL, there was a reduction in the aerobic group over the 14 weeks (p=0,003). The TGL levels of the strength and the control groups did not changed significantly. Conclusions Taking into account the young adults population and the training programs performed, our results seem to indicate that the strength training may be useful in TC reduction and the aerobic training in TGL reduction.