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We routinely advise patients to increase aerobic exercise as a means of raising HDL cholesterol levels. These researchers conducted a meta-analysis to assess the overall effect of aerobic exercise on HDL levels and to determine which properties of an exercise program have the greatest effect. A total of 35 trials, including about 1400 subjects (mean intervention period, 27 weeks), were included in the analysis.
After exercise training, HDL levels were a mean of 2.53 mg/dL higher in patients randomized to exercise than in controls — a significant difference. Duration of exercise was significantly associated with change in HDL: Increases in HDL were significant only beyond thresholds of 120 minutes per week for total duration and 30 minutes fo…