Acute exercise and postprandial lipemia in young people

Exaggerated postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations ([TAG]) independently predict future cardiovascular events. Acute exercise and diet interventions attenuate postprandial [TAG] in adults. This paper aims to examine the exercise postprandial lipemia studies published to date in young people. Nine studies satisfied the inclusion criteria adopted for this summary. The majority of studies are in boys (22% girls) and have shown a single ~60 min session of moderate intensity exercise, performed 12 to 16 h before a standardised meal, reduces postprandial [TAG]. Manipulations of exercise duration and intensity suggest an exercise energy expenditure dose-dependent response is not supported directly in healthy young people. Studies investigating alternative exercise bouts have reported lower postprandial [TAG] after simulated intermittent games activity, high intensity interval running and cumulative 10-min blocks over several hours, which may appeal to the spontaneous physical activity habits of young people. Although extension of these initial findings is warranted, exercise may be an effective strategy to promote regular benefits in TAG metabolism in children and adolescents; this may contribute to an improved cardiovascular disease risk profile early in life.