The delayed effects of prolonged physical exercise and physical training on cholesterol level.

The delayed effects of prolonged physical exercise on total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were studied before and after a training period of 8 weeks. In 15 subjects, 1 and 2 days after a 3 h running test, total cholesterol was significantly lower than 1 day before and 8 days after the end of the exercise. One day post-exercise, HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher compared with 1 day before and 8 days afterwards. In ten subjects participating in the training program, decreased total cholesterol values were again found on the first day after the post-training exercise test. Total and HDL cholesterol levels were not significantly affected by 8 weeks of training.