Stairs instead of elevators at the workplace decreases <scp>PCSK</scp>9 levels in a healthy population

TLDR

Regular physical activity is recommended to lower LDL‑C, and while PCSK9 inhibition reduces LDL‑C, the effect of exercise on PCSK9 levels is unclear. The study followed 67 healthy employees for 6 months, encouraging stair use for 3 months, measuring VO₂ max and serum PCSK9 at baseline, 3, and 6 months, and analyzed changes with multilevel regression controlling for age, gender, aerobic capacity, baseline LDL‑C, and BMI changes. After 3 months of stair use, PCSK9 fell from 403.6 to 324.3 ng/mL, LDL‑C from 3.5 to 3.3 mM, and VO₂ max increased to 40.4 mL/kg/min, with physical activity independently associated with PCSK9 reduction.

Abstract

Regular physical activity is recommended to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a healthy population. Inhibition of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was shown to reduce (LDL-C) levels; however, the impact of physical exercise on PCSK9 levels remains unclear.We used data from 67 healthy hospital employees who participated in a 6-month intervention promoting active use of stairs instead of elevators during 3 months, followed by 3 months without recommendation. We confirmed the degree of physical activity with estimated aerobic capacity (VO2 max ) and measured serum PCSK9 levels at baseline, 3 and 6 month. Using a multilevel regression model, we analysed changes of PCSK9 levels over time adjusting for age, gender, aerobic capacity, baseline LDL-C, and LDL-C and body mass index (BMI) changes.At baseline, PCSK9 levels were associated with higher aerobic capacity (P-value = 0·024). At 3 months, we observed a significant decrease in mean PCSK9 levels from 403·6 to 324·3 ng/mL (P-value = 0·001), as well a significant decrease in mean LDL-C levels from 3·5 to 3·3 mM (P-value = 0·01). During this period, mean aerobic capacity (VO2 max ) increased from 37·0 to 40·4 mL/kg/min (P-value < 0·001). Physical activity was independently associated with a decrease in PCSK9 levels after adjustment for age, gender, baseline aerobic capacity, and LDL-C and BMI changes.Daily physical activity at the work place is independently associated with a decrease in PCSK9 levels over time.