Scottish scientists report in a recent edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that a single session of exercise improved the health of blood vessels and reduced lipid levels in men.
They studied 20 middle-aged male subjects, 10 of whom were obese, and 10 lean. They measured blood lipid levels and the reactivity of blood vessels after a fatty meal, twice in each subject, a week or two apart. The afternoon before one of the two measurements, each subject walked on a treadmill for 90 minutes. They did no exercise the day before the other test.
Exercise improved triglyceride blood levels by 25% in both lean and obese subjects, and also improved blood vessel function by 25%. While the fatty meal increased triglycerides and worsened blood vessel function in all subjects, these negative effects of the fatty meal were significantly blunted by having exercised the day before.
DrRich comments:
The striking thing about this study is that one brisk walk was able to improve the function of blood vessels and blood lipid levels to a significant degree, and that the benefits persisted the next day. That is, the benefits of exercise can be measured acutely.
While 90 minutes of walking is a long time, it is likely that shorter exercise bouts will also have a beneficial effect. The testing of shorter exercise sessions is being planned.
But don't wait for more studies; we already know exercise is vital to good health. Get off your duff now.
