To evaluate the effects of decreased physical activities on serum lipids, we measured serum lipids level in 25 patients with cervical cord injured and 17 normal controls.

The patients with cervical cord injured were divided into 2 groups, SCI athletes and SCI non-athletes, and the serum levels of concentration of lipoproteins were observed and compared with these groups each other. The results were as follows:

1) The serum HDL-cholestrol levels of nonathletes group were significantly lower than those of SCI athlete group, and those of athletes group were significantly lower than those of normal controls.

2) The serum total cholestrol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of SCI athletes group showed no significant differences, compared with those of normal control and SCI athlete group.

3) The ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol, commonly used ratio for the risk of coronary heart disease, were highest in non-athletes group.

Therefore, we conclude that serum lipid levels of cervical cord injured are influenced by decreased physical activities primarily, and the serum HDL-cholesterol level can be affected by physical activities positively.