It Takes Time and a Lot of Exercise to Raise HDL Levels

The volume or amount of exercise performed per week may also influence the magnitude of change in HDL-C levels. Most of the exercise training studies identify a weekly mileage threshold of 7 to 10 miles/week for significant increases in HDL-C. Wood and colleagues (1983) suggested that a threshold of running approximately 8 miles per week over a 1-year period is necessary to increases in HDL-C levels. In addition, Williams et al. (1982) reported that plasma concentrations of HDL-C generally did not begin to change until a threshold exercise level of 10 miles per week was maintained for at least 9 months. Kikkinos and others (1995a) reported significantly higher HDL-C levels in runners that averaged 7 to 10 miles per week. An additional study by Williams (1998) suggested that exercise volume is more important than exercise intensity. He reported that weekly mileage was more strongly correlated to HDL-C levels than exercise intensity. Interestingly, a higher volume of exercise provided significant increases in HDL-C in a shorter period of time. This indicates that there may be a relationship between exercise volume and the length of the training program. For non-runners a caloric expenditure above 1000 kcals per week has also been defined as a threshold dose of exercise to increase HDL-C levels (Drygas et al. 2000). These authors also noted that energy expenditure of &Mac179; 2000 kcals per week is associated with additional increases in HDL-C and that there may be a dose-response relationship between exercise and HDL-C levels.

... Similarly, Seip and colleagues (1993) found significant increases in HDL-C levels in postmenopausal women following 9-12 months of endurance training at 80-90% HRmax.

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