Is acute supramaximal exercise capable of modulating lipoprotein profile in healthy men?

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effects of acute supramaximal exercise (approximately 115% VO(2max)) on the blood lipid profile for three different carbohydrate (CHO) storage levels (control, low and high). METHODS: Six male subjects were randomly divided into three different groups: control, low CHO and high CHO. These groups differed in the diet to which the subjects were submitted before each exercise session. The lipid profile [triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, TG/HDL-C ratio and total cholesterol) was determined at rest, immediately after exercise and 1 h after exercise bouts. RESULTS: The time to exhaustion was lower in the low CHO condition compared with the control and high CHO condition (3.59 +/- 0.72; 2.91 +/- 0.56; and 4.26 +/- 0.69 min; P < 0.05). The energy expenditure (control: 251.1 +/- 56.0 kJ; low CHO: 215.2 +/- 28.6 kJ; and high CHO: 310.4 +/- 64.9 kJ) was significantly different between the low and high CHO conditions (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the lipid profile for any of the experimental conditions (control, low and high; P < 0.05). Glucose and insulin levels did not show time-dependent changes in any of the conditions (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a supramaximal exercise session has no significant effects on lipid metabolism.