OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the effects of different amounts of dietary triglycerides on the serum lipids triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins and body weight of inactive and exercised rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: one fed a control diet (7% fat by weight) and another fed a high-fat diet (14% fat by weight). These two groups were further divided into two subgroups: one remained inactive and the other exercised for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Body weight did not differ among the groups although less food was consumed by the high-fat diet group. Triglyceride levels did not increase with the high-fat diet and HDL-cholesterol only increased in the normal-fat diet, exercised group. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise intensity and duration had a stronger influence on HDL-cholesterol levels than on triglyceride levels. The diet would probably need a higher fat content to actually affect serum lipid levels and supposedly increase physical performance.
Diet; Exercise; Dietary fats; Rats Wistar
