Influence of moderate exercise on glucose homeostasis and serum testosterone in young men with low HDL-cholesterol level.

Fifty-five healthy sedentary non smoking and non obese 24-26-year-old men with a low serum concentration of HDL-cholesterol were selected for a study of the effect of nine weeks of exercise on glucose homeostasis, and blood testosterone. The participants were randomized into two groups. Twenty-eight subjects were assigned to a nine-week program of submaximal aerobic exercise three times weekly, while 27 were assigned to a non exercising control group. The improvement in physical fitness was assessed by change in estimated oxygen consumption (EVO2 max) that was increased by 15% in the exercise group (p less than 0.001), but remained unchanged in the control group. During the study the body weight of both groups remained essentially unchanged. There was a significant reduction of mean plasma fructosamine in the exercise group, and non significant reduction in serum insulin. Serum testosterone, glycohemoglobin and HDL-cholesterol were not influenced by exercise, while serum triglycerides were significantly reduced.