The association between muscle strengthening activities and atherogenic index of plasma

Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), calculated as LOG10(triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol), is considered to be a novel indicator of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Muscle strengthening activities (MSA) have been shown to favorably associate with triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The association between MSA and AIP has yet to be explored in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, which was the purpose of this brief report. Data from the 1999-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used (N = 6694 adults 20-85 yrs). AIP was obtained from a blood sample and a 2-item questionnaire was implemented to assess MSA participation over the previous 30-days. Individuals meeting MSA guidelines (vs. not) had reduced odds of having an elevated (> 0.24) AIP (odds ratio = 0.80; 95% confidence interval: 0.65-0.98; P = 0.03). Muscle strengthening activities appear to be inversely associated with AIP. Engaging in MSA may be a strategy to mitigate risk for health outcomes associated with an elevated AIP, such as CVD.