Changes in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol subfractions with exercise training may be dependent on cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genotype.

We sought to determine if a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene locus variation contributes to the variability in the responses of plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subfractions to endurance exercise training. Middle- to older-aged men and women with at least 1 lipoprotein-lipid risk factor underwent 6 months of endurance exercise training while on a low-fat diet. Plasma lipid levels were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Initial age, body composition, lipoprotein-lipid profiles, and VO(2)max did not differ between the 2 CETP genotype groups (B1B1, n = 16; B1B2, n = 14). With exercise training, VO(2)max increased, and body weight, total body fat, and computed tomographic (CT) intra-abdominal visceral fat decreased similarly in both CETP genotype groups. Plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels did not change significantly with training in either genotype group. HDL(2NMR)-C levels increased with exercise training in CETP B1B1 (P <.05), but did not change in CETP B1B2 genotype individuals. HDL(3NMR)-C levels tended to decrease with training in CETP B1B1 persons and HDL(4NMR)-C levels tended to increase with training somewhat more in CETP B1B2 individuals, but these differences were not significant. HDL(5NMR)-C levels increased similarly with exercise training in the 2 groups. The integrated HDL(3-5NMR)-C levels increased with exercise training in CETP B1B2 (P <.05), but did not change in CETP B1B1 genotype individuals. Apolipoprotein E (APO E) or lipoprotein lipase (LPL) PvuII genotype did not associate with HDL-C subfraction changes with training. Thus, CETP genotype may contribute to the interindividual differences in plasma HDL-C subfraction changes occurring with endurance exercise training in sedentary middle- to older-aged men and women.