We examined the body build, physical performance levels, and the blood profile of 22 males aged 47-78 years who had continued running daily or at least 3 times a week for 2-18 years (mean 7 years) and studied the relationships of the body build, physical performance, and the intensity and amount of daily physical activities with the serum total cholesterol level, HDL-cholesterol level, LDL-cholesterol level, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio, and HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratio. The following results were obtained.
1) The total cholesterol level showed no significant correlation coefficient with age, body weight, body fat mass, or lean body mass.
2) The HDL-cholesterol level and HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratio increased with age, but the LDL-cholesterol level showed no correlation with age.
3) The HDL-cholesterol level was generally high in subjects with a small body fat mass, and there was a clear negative correlation between the HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratio and the body fat mass.
4) Although triglyceride level showed no significant correlation with the amount or intensity of daily physical activity, it tended to be reduced with an increasing amount or intensity of physical activity.
5) The total cholesterol level was lower as the intensity of physical activity was higher.
6) The total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio showed a clear tendency to decrease with an increasing amount of exercise.
7) The decrease in LDL-cholesterol tended to be more closely related to the intensity than the amount of daily physical activity.
8) The HDL-cholesterol/LDL-cholesterol ratio tended to increase with both the amount and intensity of physical activity.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.1/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE