The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Postprandial Lipaemia: A Simple Method of Measuring Capillary Triacylglycerol Concentrations

Abstract

An acute bout of physical activity lowers postprandial lipaemia, a cardiovascular disease risk marker, and this physical activity-induced lowering of postprandial lipaemia is short-lived. However, little is known regarding the role of physical activity status on postprandial lipaemia. The purpose of this study was to compare postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations in active and inactive older adults. A total of 26 older adults （aged 69.8±0.9 years, mean±SEM; 16 females and 10 males） were recruited. Based on accelerometer data, participants were divided into either the active group （>_150 min/week of moderate-intensity physical activity, n = 15） or the inactive group （<150 min/week of moderate-intensity physical activity, n = 11）．After a 48-h period of physical activity avoidance and a 10-h overnight fast, participants consumed a test meal of moderate fat content （35%）．Capillary blood samples were collected in the fasted state and at 2, 4, and 6 h postprandial time points. After adjusting for body mass, body mass index and waist circumference, postprandial capillary triacylglycerol concentrations were significantly lower in the active group than in the inactive group （P < 0.0005）．These findings demonstrate that regular physical activity has a beneficial effect on lowered postprandial lipaemic response which is independent of the acute effects of physical activity.