Serum lipid and lipoprotein levels are influenced by genetic factors, and exorcise increases the concentrations of cardio-protective parameters such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and apolipoproteinAI (apoAI) in human serum. In the present study, we tested the effect of adaptation to endurance exercise on the association of a genetic polymorphism (Pst 1 RFLP) in the apoAI gene with these biochemical parameters. The genotype and allele frequencies for the Pst 1 RFLP were not significantly different between the elite athletes and sedentary controls (P>0.05). There were also no significant associations between the Pst 1 RFLP of the apoAI gene and the biochemical parameters in elite athletic group. Thus, our results suggest that the Pst 1 RFLP of the apoAI gene was not significantly associated with the serum apoAI and HDL-cholesterol concentrations as well as athletic performance in Koreans.