Hypoxic Training with Calorie Restriction Improves Lipid Profile and Body Composition in Men with Obesity-Related Hypercholesterolemia: A Controlled Intervention Study

Obesity and overweight conditions, frequently accompanied by hypercholesterolemia, are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle interventions remain the cornerstone of non-pharmacological treatment; however, their effectiveness in improving lipid profiles is limited. Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) has recently emerged as a potential strategy to enhance metabolic outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 4-week intensive IHT program combined with a calorie-restricted diet on lipid profile and body composition in men with overweight or obesity and secondary hypercholesterolemia. Twenty physically inactive men (35.3 ± 5.4 years) were randomly assigned to either a hypoxic group (H, <i>n</i> = 10) or a normoxic control group (C, <i>n</i> = 10). Both groups followed the same training protocol and diet, differing only in environmental training conditions. Body composition, resting metabolic rate, and blood lipid parameters (total cholesterol, TC; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C; non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-HDL-C; Triglycerides, TG) were assessed before and after the intervention. Compared with the C group, participants in the H group achieved significantly greater reductions in body mass (-5.4% vs. -2.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and fat mass (-14.7% vs. -7%, <i>p</i> < 0.01). IHT also induced marked decreases in TC (-22.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), LDL-C (-25.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), non-HDL-C (-26.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and TG (-31.4%, <i>p</i> < 0.01), along with a significant improvement in the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP, -24.4%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). In contrast, the C group showed only non-significant downward trends. No significant changes in HDL-C were observed in either group. These findings suggest that IHT combined with dietary restriction produces more favorable changes in lipid profile and body composition than normoxic training. IHT may therefore represent a promising adjunct to conventional lifestyle-based interventions in the management of obesity-related hypercholesterolemia.