Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a process that prevents atherosclerosis. Studies showed that exercise training for strengthening cardiac muscle, increasing heart lipid metabolism and its potency against risk factors could protect cardiovascular health. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) result in cardiovascular protection by increasing the expression of genes involved in RCT and biogenesis of HDL.
Saleh Rahmati-Ahmadabad, Hossein Shirvani, Abbass Ghanbari-Niaki, Fatemeh Rostamkhani, The effects of high-intensity interval training on reverse cholesterol transport elements: A way of cardiovascular protection against atherosclerosis, Life Sciences, Volume 209, 2018, Pages 377-382, ISSN 0024-3205, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2018.08.036. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320518304879).