The Influence of Short-Term Aerobic Training on Blood Lipids in Healthy 10-12 Year Old Children

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 1996-10, Vol.17 (7), p.487-492
• Main Authors: Rowland, T. W., Mattel, L., Vanderburgh, P., Manos, T., Charkoudian, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Exercise - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate; Humans; Lipids - blood; Lipids. Glycolipids; Male; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; Oxygen Consumption; Physiology and Biochemistry; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-972883

This study was designed to examine the ability an endurance exercise training program to alter blood levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides in children. Thirty-one sixth grade students age 10-12 years (20 girls, 11 boys) who were healthy and active volunteered for participation. The training program consisted of 13 weeks of aerobic activities three days a week, 25 minutes per session, with training intensity assessed by heart rate monitors. Serum lipids and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were measured at the beginning of a control period, 13 weeks later at the beginning of the training program, and at the termination of 13 weeks of training. VO2max values for the group improved 5.4%, but no significant changes were observed in any of the blood lipid levels between the control and training periods. These findings suggest that aerobic training of 13-weeks duration is not an effective means of altering blood lipids in healthy normolipemic children.