The lipoprotein profile of healthy people with low maximum oxygen uptake is similar to the lipoprotein profile of people with insulin resistance. We know that persons with low cardiorespiratory fitness have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and an unfavorable lipoprotein profile appears to be a probable part of the explanation. The results are based on data from the fitness testing of 211 healthy, middle-aged Norwegians who participated in the HUNT3 Fitness project. Half had high fitness, while the other half had low fitness, despite the fact that both groups were the same age and reported the same level of physical activity.

In the study, we used advanced nuclear MRI technology to study the levels of fats in 99 subgroups of the lipoproteins HDL, LDL, VLDL and IDL. Especially in the largest of the VLDL particles, we found increased levels of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides in those with low fitness. This group also had 15% higher VLDL levels overall. In addition, they had higher fat content in small LDL and HDL particles. HDL particles are often referred to as "good cholesterol" because they can protect against atherosclerosis, but this probably only applies to large and medium-sized HDL particles. Small LDL particles can also play an important role in the formation of harmful plaques in blood vessels.

Read the full research article in Atherosclerosis:
Atherogenic lipidomics profile in healthy individuals with low cardiorespiratory fitness: The HUNT3 fitness study

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