PS
Here is a great way to raise your HDL2. Not only it is safe, it has many other known benefits (lower LDL) with no negative side effects
Atherosclerosis. 2006 Jan;184(1):207-15.
Aerobic exercise and HDL2-C: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Kelley GA, Kelley KS.
PURPOSE: Use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on high-density lipoprotein two cholesterol (HDL2-C) in adults.
STUDY SOURCES: (1) Computerized literature searches; (2) cross-referencing from retrieved articles; (3) hand-searching; and (4) expert review of our reference list.
STUDY SELECTION: (1) Randomized controlled trials; (2) aerobic exercise > or = 8 weeks; (3) adults > or = 18 years of age; (4) studies published in journal, dissertation, or master's thesis format; (5) studies published in the English-language between January 1, 1955 and January 1, 2003; and (6) assessment of HDL2-C in the fasting state.
DATA ABSTRACTION: All coding conducted by both authors, independent of each other. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus.
RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials representing 20 HDL2-C outcomes from 984 males and females (516 exercise, 468 control) were pooled for analysis. Using random-effects modeling and bootstrap confidence intervals (BCI),
a statistically significant increase of approximately 11% was observed for HDL2-C (X +/- S.E.M., 2.6 +/- 0.9 mg/dl, 95% BCI, 1.0-4.4 mg/dl). With each study deleted from the model once, results remained statistically significant. Increases in HDL2-C were independent of decreases in body weight, body mass index (kg/m2), and percent body fat.
CONCLUSION:
Aerobic exercise increases HDL2-C in adults.
PMID: 15907854
Another... Lowers LDL and raised HDL 2
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2004 Dec;13(10):1148-64.
Aerobic exercise and lipids and lipoproteins in women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Tran ZV.
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, and less than optimal lipid and lipoprotein levels are major risk factors for CVD. The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on lipids and lipoproteins in women.
METHODS: Studies were retrieved via computerized literature searches, review of reference lists, hand searching selected journals, and expert review of our reference list. The inclusion of studies was limited to randomized controlled trials published in the English language literature between January 1955 and January 2003 in which aerobic exercise was used as the primary intervention in adult women aged > or =18 years. One or more of the following lipids and lipoproteins were assessed: total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG).
RESULTS: Using a random effects model, statistically significant improvements were observed for all lipids and lipoproteins (TC, +/- SEM, -4.3 +/- 1.3 mg/dl, 95% CI -6.9 to -1.7 mg/dl; HDL-C, +/- SEM, 1.8 +/- 0.9 mg/dl, 95% CI 0.1 to 3.5 mg/dl; LDL-C, +/- SEM, -4.4 +/- 1.1 mg/dl, 95% CI -6.5 to -2.2 mg/dl; TG, +/- SEM, -4.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dl, 95% CI -8.4 to -0.1 mg/dl).
Reductions of approximately 2%, 3%, and 5%, respectively, were observed for TC, LDL-C, and TG, whereas an increase of 3% was observed for HDL-C.
CONCLUSIONS:
Aerobic exercise is efficacious for increasing HDL-C and decreasing TC, LDL-C, and TG in women.
PMID: 15650348
Even just walking works
Prev Med. 2004 May;38(5):651-61.
Walking, lipids, and lipoproteins: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of walking on lipids and lipoproteins in adults.
METHODS: Randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of walking on total cholesterol (TC), high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), the ratio of TC/HDL, and triglycerides (TG) in adults ages 18 years and older were retrieved via computerized literature searches, cross-referencing, hand-searching, and expert review of our reference list.
RESULTS: Twenty-five studies that included 1,176 subjects (692 walkers, 484 controls) and up to 33 outcomes were available for pooling.
Using random-effects modeling, statistically significant, walking-induced decreases of 5% and 6% were observed for LDL-C and TC/HDL-C (LDL-C, mean +/- SE, -5.5 +/- 2.2 mg/dL, 95% CI, -9.9 to -1.2 mg/dL; TC/HDL-C, mean +/- SE, -0.3 +/- 0.1, 95% CI, -0.6 to -0.1). No statistically significant changes were observed for TC, HDL, or TG (P > 0.05), although changes were in the direction of benefit. No statistically significant changes occurred in body composition (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Walking reduces LDL-C and TC/HDL-C in adults independent of changes in body composition.
PMID: 15066369