Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke in the United States, though recent trends of deaths associated with these diseases have decreased due to adoption of healthier lifestyles. Hyperlipidemia may be genetically inherited, related to medication or related to other diseases such as diabetes. However, lack of exercise and consuming fatty diets, as well as being overweight, can contribute to the development of hyperlipidemia; thus, you might conclude that adopting a healthy diet and exercise regime will help reduce this possibility, though ongoing research is still needed.
Managing and Treating Hyperlipidemia
A recent study in 2010 published in "American Family Physician" found that at least 120 minutes per week of aerobic exercise improved blood lipid levels in subjects who already had hyperlipidemia. This study found that if you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, reducing your consumption of saturated and trans fats, increasing intake of poly- and monounsaturated fats and drinking a small amount of alcohol each day also influenced lipid levels.
A review of research in "Nippon Rinsho Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine" found that the combination of low-fat diet and exercise are vital for the management of hyperlipidemia and prevention of hyperlipidemia-related heart disease. Dr. Tanaka, the author of the paper, suggests that an optimal level of exercise is more than 20 minutes of moderate aerobic activity at least three days per week, though daily exercise is preferred.
Combining Diet and Exercise
Although research is lacking that shows that diet and exercise are effective in preventing hyperlipidemia, the combination of these methods can help treat and manage high levels of lipids. However, one cannot exist without the other and still be effective. According to a 2002 study published in "Metabolism," test pigs that were fed high-fat diets did not show improved levels of blood lipids with the implementation of a 16-to-20-week aerobic exercise regime.
Preventing Heart Disease
The "American Journal of Surgery" found in a 1995 study that following a strict low-fat diet and engaging in regular exercise decreased the likelihood that hyperlipidemia would cause subjects to develop heart disease as well. Researchers determined that these lifestyle changes helped to avoid side effects experienced with the use of drugs and surgery; though they made the observation that people who eat right and exercise regularly are less likely to develop hyperlipidemia, these are not necessarily preventative in the quest to avoid high levels of blood lipids.
Conflicting Research
A 2009 study published in "The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences" randomly tested 6,600 subjects for diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension and tried to link the existence of these with lifestyles and diets exhibited by the test subjects. The team concluded that after accounting for differences in age, body composition and sex, the effect of diet and exercise on the possibility of developing or having one of these diseases was statistically insignificant.
References
- MedlinePlus: High Blood Cholesterol
- American Family Physician; Diet and exercise in the management of hyperlipidemia; Kelly RB; May 2010.
- The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences; Sex differences in metabolic morbidities; Chiu YW, et al; December 2009.
- American Journal of Surgery; Surgery, drugs, lifestyle and hyperlipidemia; Dalessandri KM, Organ CH Jr.; April 1995.
- Metabolism; Exercise training does not reduce hyperlipidemia in pigs fed a high-fat diet; Thomas TR, et al; December 2002.
- Nippon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine; Diet and exercise therapy of hyperlipidemia based on evidences; Tanaka A; May 2002.
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