ABSTRACT
Evidence suggests that physical activity has a beneficial effect of elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) on reducing coronary artery risk. However, previous studies show contrasting results for this association between different types of exercise training (i.e., aerobic, resistance or combined aerobic and resistance training).The aim of this study was to determine which type of exercise training is more effective in increasing HDL-C levels. A total of 40 obese males, aged 18-29 years old, were randomized into four groups: an aerobic training group (n= 10), a resistance training group (n= 10), a combined exercise training group (n= 10), and a control group(n= 10). After 12-week of exercise program, anthropometrics, blood biochemical variables and physical fitness components were compared with the data obtained at the baseline. The multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between different types of exercise training and changes in HDL-C while adjusting for potential confounders. The results showed that with the control group as the comparator, the effects of combined exercise training group (ß= 4.17, P< 0.0001), aerobic training group (ß= 3.65, P< 0.0001) and resistance training group (ß= 2.10, P=0.0001) were positively associated with increase in HDL-C after adjusting for potential confounders. Our findings suggested that a short-term exercise program can play an important role in increasing the HDL-C level, either aerobic or resistance training alone increase significantly the HDL-C levels, but the improvements are greatest with combined aerobic and resistance training.