College Station, Texas -- A U.S. study says lower cholesterol levels may reduce muscle gain with exercising.

A report published in the Journal of Gerontology said researchers were surprised to find a significant association between dietary cholesterol and change in strength in 55 men and women between the ages of 60 and 69 who were assessed over a 12-week period, Texas A&M University said Wednesday in a release.

Lead investigator Steven Riechman, assistant professor of health and kinesiology, said those with higher cholesterol intake had the highest muscle strength gain. Cholesterol circulating in the blood also appeared to have contributed to greater muscle gain.

The report said subjects who were taking cholesterol-lowering drugs while participating in the study showed lower muscle gain totals than those who were not.

"One possible explanation is through cholesterol's important role in the inflammation process," Riechman said in a statement. "We know that inflammation in some areas, such as near the heart, is not good, but for building muscles it may be beneficial, and cholesterol appears to aid in this process."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.