Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine 2333-4606 4 1 2016 2 16 The Impact of Serum Lipid Profile on Muscle Size in Male Jamaican Track and Field Athletes 20 25 EN Aldeam Facey Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry Section Lowell Dilworth Rachael Irving AJSSM2016414 10.12691/ajssm-4-1-4 2015 11 9 2015 12 7 2016 2 14 Background: Exercise causes a reduction of serum cholesterol, prevents cardiovascular disease and is a contributor to the muscle thickness. Objectives: The research examined the impact of Total Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels on muscle thickness at three muscle sites in well trained young adult male athletes. Methods: Nineteen (19) athletes and twenty seven (27) non-athletes who served as controls were selected for the study. Fasting serum lipid concentrations (HDL-C, LDL-C, TC and TG) and muscle thickness at three sites: the chest, abdomen and thigh were determined using ultrasound technology. Results: Results showed that TC and LDL-C levels are significantly higher in the non-athletic group. The HDL-C and TG levels however, were not significantly different between the groups. There was a significant negative correlation (P=0.01) between thickness of the thigh muscle and HDL-C concentration. The TC, LDL-C and TG concentrations had no significant association with the thickness of the muscles at any of the three sites assessed. Conclusions: The thickness of the muscles of the thigh in young non-athletic Jamaican males is associated with HDL-C concentration.