Impact of the habitual physical activity on lipid profile in adults

The present study was designed to analyze the impact of the habitual physical activity determined by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) on lipid profile in representative sample of adults. A sample of 361 subjects (196 women and 165 men) aged 20-60 years old was included in the study. Plasma lipid concentrations were measured by standard procedures. The results showed that HDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol levels were not significantly different across physical activity groups in both sexes. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly different across physical activity groups in women and men, but the pattern of variation was different between genders. The results from logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds ratios for low plasma lipid levels was significant only in subjects classified as very active compared with sedentary. In conclusion, the results suggest that increased habitual physical activity determined by IPAQ present significant impact in the plasma lipid profile in adults of both sexes, independently of the age and of the variations of the body weight.