Mechanisms
Neither ad libitum nor time-restricted voluntary wheel running altered atherosclerotic lesion size in CETP-humanised mice or lipid profile in obese men (Obesity (Silver Spring) 2020)
Original title: Mild Exercise Does Not Prevent Atherosclerosis in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP Mice or Improve Lipoprotein Profile of Men with Obesity
The molecular link between exercise and cardiometabolic health, and the effect of exercise timing, remain unclear. Atherosclerosis-prone dyslipidemic APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a humanised model expressing human cholesteryl ester transfer protein, underwent ad libitum or time-restricted (first or last 6 hours of the active phase) voluntary wheel running for 16 weeks on a cholesterol-rich diet, after which aortic-root atherosclerosis was assessed. Separately, nine men with obesity completed a 12-week mild exercise programme, with lipoprotein levels measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after training. Wheel running did not affect plasma lipid levels, tissue uptake of triglyceride-derived fatty acids, aortic lesion size or severity, or training-status markers. Exercise training did not alter lipoprotein levels in the men. Mild exercise did not reduce dyslipidemia or atherosclerosis in this CETP-humanised model or affect human lipoprotein levels.
Original abstract
Objective: Exercise has been shown to improve cardiometabolic health, yet neither the molecular connection nor the effects of exercise timing have been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ad libitum or time-restricted mild exercise reduces atherosclerosis development in atherosclerosis-prone dyslipidemic APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice and whether mild exercise training in men with obesity affects lipoprotein levels.
Methods: Mice were group-housed and subjected to ad libitum or time-restricted (first or last 6 hours of the active phase) voluntary wheel running for 16 weeks while on a cholesterol-rich diet, after which atherosclerosis development was assessed in the aortic root. Furthermore, nine men with obesity followed a 12-week mild exercise training program. Lipoprotein levels were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in plasma collected pre and post exercise training.
Results: Wheel running did not affect plasma lipid levels, uptake of triglyceride-derived fatty acids by tissues, and aortic atherosclerotic lesion size or severity. Markers of training status were unaltered. Exercise training in men with obesity did not alter lipoprotein levels.
Conclusions: Mild exercise training does not reduce dyslipidemia or atherosclerosis development in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice or affect lipoprotein levels in humans. Future research on the effects of (time-restricted) exercise on atherosclerosis or lipid metabolism should consider more vigorous exercise protocols.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.