Body Composition And Plasma Lipoprotein Profile Of Male And Female Swimming And Track Athletes

This study investigated the differences and relationships between body fat and plasma lipoproteins using the noninvasive and validated measurements of fat-free mass by total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC). Total body water, lean body mass, and total body fat were measured by TOBEC along with determinations of plasma lipoproteins [total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and triglyceride] in 40 college-aged male and female swimming and track athletes. Body weight (mean ± SD, 69.9 ± 0.6 vs. 60.0 ± 3.8 kg), total body water (42.4 ± 0.5 vs. 32.4 ±0.5 liters), and fat-free mass (57.9 ± 0.7 vs. 44.3 ± 0.7 kg) were significantly higher in the males compared with the females. Total body fat (15.5 ±3.4 vs. 12.3 ± 0.4 kg) and percent fat (23.3 ±6.1 vs. 19.7 ± 2.9) were higher in the swimming athletes than in the track athletes. The female swimmers had significantly higher percent body fat (29.3 ± 2.4 vs. 22.5 ± 3.9) than the female track athletes. Plasma HDL-C was significantly higher in the female swimming athletes (61.5 ± 10.6 vs. 50.2 ± 9.3 mg/dl) and the female track athletes (56.0 ± 9.4 vs. 48.3 ± 7.9 mg/dl) compared with the male athletes. A significant negative relationship was observed between plasma HDL-C and total body fat (r = —0.66) in the female swimmers, the higher the plasma HDL-C level the lower the body fat. The relationship of total body fat to TC (r — - 0.70) in female swimmers was opposite to what is observed in inactive females. This relationship may be due to the high percentage of HDL-C in TC or perhaps the insulatory nature of the swimmers body fat for adaptation to cold water has a different effect on TC. According to the results of this study, plasma HDL-C is higher in athletic females compared with athletic males, as is seen in inactive individuals. However, when utilizing the HDL-C to TC ratio, the male track athletes become similar to the female track athletes.