To assess the effect of exercise on the plasma concentration of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) and its possible influence in mediating the exercise-associated redistribution of cholesterol among plasma lipoproteins, we measured plasma CETP in 57 healthy normolipidemic men and women before and after 9 to 12 months of exercise training. The training protocol resulted in significant changes in Vo^.,, (mean±SD, +5-3±3.5 mL • kg" 1 • min" 1 ), body weight (-2.5±3.5 kg), plasma triglycerides (-25.7±36J mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (+2.6±62 mg/dL), and ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-C (-0.30±0.52) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL-C (-0.18±0.45) (all P^.05) but no change in lipoprotein(a). CETP concentration (in milligrams per liter) fell significantly in response to training in both men (n=28, 2.47±0.66 to 2.12±0.43; % A=14.2%; P<.005) and women (n=29, 2.72±1.01 to 2-J6±0.76; % A=13.2%; P