HDL capacity to inhibit LDL oxidation in well-trained triathletes

Physical activity is known to play a cardioprotective role. Nevertheless, a paradox seems to arise when considering that aerobic exercise enhances oxidative stress. In previous works, we showed that free radical formation during physical activity was counteracted by an increase in antioxidant defenses. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation is a crucial step in atherosclerosis, process that can be inhibited by high density lipoprotein (HDL) through its oxidable components or associated enzymes like paraoxonase (PON) and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). In this study, we evaluated copper-induced oxidation in isolated LDL and HDL fractions, and the effect of HDL on LDL oxidation in samples from well trained amateur athletes who were participating in an ultra-distance triathlon (n = 18) in comparison with healthy sedentary controls (n = 18). PON and PAF-AH activities and PON phenotype were also evaluated. The oxidability of isolated lipoproteins, as well as HDL antioxidant capacity, was similar in both groups of subjects. After classification by paraoxonase phenotype, only sportsmen belonging to the QR phenotype showed higher HDL susceptibility to in vitro oxidation (thiobarbituric reactive substances, TBARS) than controls (p < 0.05). HDL oxidability exhibited a positive correlation with its triglyceride content (r = 0.58; p < 0.01). Similarly, HDL capacity to inhibit LDL oxidation was increased in athletes (p < 0.05) which was positively associated with HDL oxidability (HDL-TBARS: r = 0.55, p < 0.005; HDL-lag time: r = 0.45, p < 0.01; HDL-D max: r = 0.35, p < 0.05). In conclusion, regular aerobic exercise was associated to a more efficient antioxidant function played by HDL from PON-QR carriers, which could constitute an adaptive response to the increased oxidative stress.