From the Guidelines
HDL, or High-Density Lipoprotein, is a type of cholesterol that plays a crucial role in removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transporting it to the liver for disposal, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to the study by Pedersen and Saltin [@15@], exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on the lipid profile, including an increase in HDL cholesterol. The mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully understood but may include increases in lecithin-cholesterol acyltrans (LCAT) and lipoprotein lipase activity, which enhance the ability of skeletal muscles to utilize lipids as opposed to glycogen, thus reducing plasma lipid levels [@18@, @19@, @20@, @21@]. Some key points about HDL include:
- HDL cholesterol transports lipids back to the liver for recycling and disposal, and high levels of HDL cholesterol are an indicator of a healthy cardiovascular system 1
- Healthy HDL levels are typically considered to be 60 mg/dL or higher, with levels below 40 mg/dL for men or below 50 mg/dL for women considered risk factors for heart disease
- Lifestyle modifications, such as regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco smoke, consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, and eating a diet rich in healthy fats, can help increase HDL levels [@16@, @17@, @22@, @23@, @24@]
- A study by Kesaniemi et al. [@26@] reported a mean increase in HDL cholesterol of 4.6% following physical activity interventions, highlighting the importance of exercise in improving HDL levels.
From the Research
Definition of HDL
- HDL stands for High-Density Lipoprotein, which is a type of lipoprotein that plays a crucial role in removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transporting it to the liver for excretion 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- HDL is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because of its ability to help remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Functions of HDL
- HDL has several important functions, including:
- Cholesterol efflux: HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from cells and transport it to the liver for excretion 2, 4, 6.
- Antioxidative properties: HDL has antioxidant properties that help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation 2, 3, 6.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: HDL has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health 2, 3, 6.
- Reverse cholesterol transport: HDL helps transport cholesterol from peripheral cells to the liver for excretion, which can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease 3, 5.
Importance of HDL Functionality
- HDL functionality is more important than HDL levels in determining cardiovascular risk 4.
- HDL functionality can be improved through regular exercise and lifestyle interventions 2, 3, 5, 6.
- Improving HDL functionality can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve overall health 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.