[Plasma lipid profile is improved by participation in sports, but at what intensivity?].

Rev Esp Cardiol 2004;57(6):495-8 495 (type I fibers), which are recruited and activated during moderate intensity exercise. Given the above, it is understandable that not all exercise or sporting activity will have the same effect on the lipid profile. Unfortunately, on many occasions the terms “physical exercise” and “sport” are used as synonyms, even though they describe different concepts. Physical exercise should be understood as planned, structured and repetitive exercise with the goal of maintaining or improving one or more components of physical fitness. Sport, though difficult to define, is a physical and intellectual human activity, competitive in nature and governed by institutionalized rules. The competitive character of sport is present in all its forms, though it is more evident in some than in others. Sports can be very different from one another, as can be the factors that limit both them and their specialities.3 This leads to many difficulties when trying to classify sports with the meeting of training needs in mind. According to their bioenergetic characteristics, sports can be classified as: a) aerobic, in which long duration, light-moderate intensity exercise dominates and in which the oxygen supply is essential for obtaining energy (e.g., the marathon, long distance swimming, tour cycling); b) alactic anaerobic, consisting of short, high intensity exercise in which energy is provided by ATP and phosphocreatine (e.g., 50 m and 60 m track events); c) lactic anaerobic, short duration, high intensity exercise (e.g., 400 m track events), and d) mixed, aerobic/anaerobic exercise (e.g., soccer, basketball, volleyball). According to the methodology of sports training, sports are classed as: a) strength and explosive strength sports (weightlifting, jumping, throwing); b) combat sports (boxing, fencing, judo); c) endurance sports (medium and long distance track events, swimming [except for events under 100 m], tour cycling); d) ball sports (soccer, volleyball, basketball), and e) coordination and competitive art sports (gymnastics, synchronized swimming, etc). Comparing the effects of different sports on the lipid profile can therefore be very difficult since, although the same energetic pathways are used, the intrinsic characteristics of training–and especially competition–can vary ED I TO R I A L S