Establishing reference intervals for lipid profiles in Indian athletes: Insights into training-type-specific metabolic adaptations

Abstract

Introduction: Lipid profiles are significant indicators for tracking an individual’s cardiovascular health, however, in the case of athletes, especially in the Indian scenario, benchmarks are not well-defined. The lipid levels of athletes tend to differ greatly because of the unique metabolic adaptations resulting from various types of training. The current study attempts to address the lack of adequate lipid profile reference intervals for athletes in India. Materials & Methods: The sample population included 361 male (23.5 ± 4.0 years) and 286 female (21.6 ± 4.2 years) athletes from the Sports Authority of India. The specimen participants were classified according to the training performed to: aerobic (long-distance running, swimming), anaerobic (sprints), and mixed (hockey, wushu). Fasting venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for Total Cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, Triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio by standardized biochemical methods. Biological variation was met by collecting samples over five months. Results: Anaerobic athletes exhibited the highest LDL-C and HDL levels, with values peaking at 150.33 mg/dL (females) and 148.76 mg/dL (males) due to their increased cholesterol demand for muscle recovery. While depreciation in LDL-C and elevation in HDL-C was noted in grade 1 French females, with the range reaching up to 69.50 mg/dL, this was attributed to better lipid clearing among aerobic athletes. TG and VLDL-C levels were higher in anaerobic athletes, linked to post-exercise lipid mobilization. The cholesterol/HDL-C ratio was higher in anaerobic athletes but more favorable in aerobic athletes. Conclusion: Due to different underlying metabolic processes from training, conventional lipid profile intervals may not fit athletes. These intervals give athletes more freedom to personalize their training strategies as the results are easier to interpret. Including aerobic exercise is important to help improve the lipid profile and assist cardiovascular fitness.