Pedometer step counts and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels among asymptomatic subjects.

While daily step counts are considered to be a useful measure of cardiovascular health, the biochemical predictors of step counts have not been fully characterized. This study investigated the correlation between pedometer-determined daily step counts and cardiometabolic variables, including the serum level of malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL), among asymptomatic subjects (n = 50, mean age 63 years). Simple and stepwise multiple linear correlation tests revealed that there was a significant inverse correlation between the step counts and MDA-LDL levels (r = -0.41, P < 0.01; β = -0.38, P < 0.01). The data suggest that daily steps may be beneficially associated with atherosclerosis in correlation with reduced oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and in addition that the MDA-LDL level may be used as a measure reflective of the daily steps.