Relationship between resistance training and lipoprotein profiles in sedentary male smokers

Epidemiological studies have found plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels to be predictive of cardiovascular disease in adults. To date, regular aerobic modes of exercise have been associated with favourable alterations in lipid and lipoprotein levels. However, the effect of resistance training on lipid and lipoprotein levels is inconclusive and conflicting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide some clarity on whether resistance training could be used to improve sedentary male smokers’ lipoprotein profiles. The study made use of a pre-test, a treatment period and a post-test. Subjects were placed into one of two groups, namely, a resistance-training (RES) group (n = 13) or a control (CON) group (n = 12). Throughout the 16-week experimental period the CON group received no treatment whatsoever. After resistance training, serum triglyceride levels were significantly decreased by 18.42% from 1.162 mmol/l (± 0.476) to 0.831 mmol/l (± 0.058) (p = 0.038) in the RES group. However, resistance training was found to have no impact on any of the other measured lipid and lipoprotein measures. In conclusion, these findings indicate that resistance training appears to have no significant effect on lipid and lipoprotein profiles in sedentary male smokers and therefore cannot prevent the advance of CAD.