Comparison of Health Anthropometric Indicators According to High Density Lipoproteins Concentration

It is known that the high density lipoproteins (HDL) serum rates are little influenced by the accumulation of body fat, but the following question arises: do those with low concentrations of HDL also have worse anthropometric indicators of health risk? PURPOSE: To compare the percentage of whole body fat and trunk, waist circumference and changes in blood lipids among male subjects with HDL below or above 40 mg/dL. METHODS: The study took place with 117 young adult men. The body composition was assessed using DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) Manufacturer: Lunar Model DPX - IQ, version 4.6 software. With a tape measure the waist circumference was measured, and espectrophotometry was done to estimate blood lipids concentrations (Total Cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). RESULTS: It was identified 61 males with HDL = 31.5 ± 5,3 mg/dL (G1) and 56 males with HDL = 47.9 ± 8,9 mg/dL (G2). The G1 had significantly greater waist circumference (88.27 ± 8,01 cm) vs. (84.31 ± 10,91 cm), higher percentage of trunk’s body fat (25.16 ± 8.55) vs. (20.43 ± 10.36) and whole body fat (22.16 ± 7.18) vs. (18.61 ± 9.21) and higher TG concentrations (166.21 ± 88,68 mg/dL) vs. (112 04 ± 67,64 mg/dL) and LDL concentrations (104.64 ± 35,47 mg/dL) vs. (90.37 ± 34,03 mg/dL). CONCLUSION: The G1 individuals presented a worse situation for both parameters, percentage of body fat and blood variables. This is probably due to the fact they are factors, such as physical inactivity and poor diet, that lead to the accumulation of body fat and to the disarrangement of the metabolic variables, factors that may have led to decreased HDL concentrations.