Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Resistance training, protein supplements, and hyperlipidemia:

Preventive Health Advisor recommends a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program with or without a protein supplement for patients of all ages if approved by the primary care physician. Overweight hypercholesterolemic men with serum cholesterol over 200 mg/dl were randomly divided into 3 groups (placebo (n = 9), soy (n = 9) or whey (n = 10) supplementation of 26 grams of protein per day to maintain protein intake of 1.2 grams per kg daily. The men participated in supervised resistance training for 12 weeks. Total serum cholesterol decreased significantly (average=5.8%) for all groups (mean reduction = 12.6 mg/dL), with no differences among groups. Specifically, total cholesterol reduction was 10.4 mg/dL for placebo, 11.2 mg/dL for soy, and 15.9 mg/dL for whey. Participation in a 12 week resistance exercise training program significantly reduced serum cholesterol, increased strength, and improved body composition in overweight, hypercholesterolemic men. Whey protein with resistance training improved cholesterol more than placebo or soy protein. (23)