| Abstract: | Summary. This study examined the relation of training distance to plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentration in runners. Forty-eight male endurance runners, aged from 30 to 57 years, were classified into three groups according to training distance (Grade I: n= 12, 30 km/week; Grade II: n= 22, 60 km/week; Grade III: n= 14, 100 km/week in average running distance), with 12 non-lean and 12 lean subjects as age-matched untrained controls. There were no significant differences in plasma total cholesterol among the groups (194–208 mg/dl on average). HDLC level was significantly higher in the untrained, lean group than in the untrained, non-lean men (63 ± 13 vs. 46 ± 8 mg/dl, mean ± SD). HDLC levels in all the runner groups were significantly higher than in untrained, lean subjects, and no differences were observed among Grade I, II and III runner groups (76 ± 15, 76 ± 13, 77 ± 11 mg/dl, respectively). This study suggests that further increases in HDLC could not occur in response to further elevation of training distance in well-trained runners. |
