Background and aim:
Increased physical activity is inversely related to the risk to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have recently reported an increased cholesterol absorption and a decreased synthesis in CVD patients as compared with control participants. Therefore, we hypothesized that exercise will reduce cholesterol absorption and increase endogenous cholesterol synthesis in older overweight men.

Methods:
A randomised, controlled, crossover trial was performed. Seventeen apparently healthy older overweight men were randomised to start with an aerobic exercise or no-exercise control period for 8 weeks, separated by 12 weeks washout. Fasting serum total cholesterol (TC) and non-cholesterol sterol concentrations were measured at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks.

Results:
The aerobic exercise program did not affect plasma TC concentrations. In addition, exercise did not affect TC-standardized serum concentrations of sitosterol and cholestanol that are markers for cholesterol absorption. However, a trend for reduced TC-standardized campesterol concentrations, which is another validated marker for cholesterol absorption, was observed as compared with control. Lathosterol concentrations, reflecting cholesterol synthesis, did not differ between both periods.

Conclusions:
Aerobic exercise training for 8 weeks did not lower serum TC concentrations, but tended to decrease the cholesterol absorption marker campesterol without changing the cholesterol synthesis marker lathosterol in older overweight men.