Physical activity and lipidomics in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim was to investigate how measurements of the lipidome differ according to the level and intensity of physical activity in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). A targeted metabolomics platform provided quantitative molecular data on lipid species. Linear regression examined the associations between plasma lipid concentrations, particle size and time spent in objectively measured physical activity intensity domains, in increments of 500 counts per minute (cpm) (up to >4500cpm (~>5.6METs)). Results are presented as % difference in the concentration (lower/higher) or particle size (smaller/larger) per 10 minutes of activity within each intensity. 509 participants were included. Time spent in the lowest physical activity intensity domain (<500cpm) was unfavourably associated with VLDL (2%), HDL (-2%) and Apolipoprotein A-1 particle concentrations (-2%) and HDL diameter (-2%). Conversely, time spent in intensities ≥1000cpm were favourably associated with HDL subclass concentrations; with stronger associations seen at moderate intensities (2000-3999cpm (~4.5METs)). For Apolipoprotein-B concentration and VLDL particle concentration and size, a negative association was consistently observed at the highest physical activity intensity only. If these associations are causal, HDL subclasses appear sensitive to light-intensities whereas only the high category of physical activity intensity was consistently associated with VLDL subclasses.