Effect of physical activity on levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in the elderly.

Abstract

Homocysteine (Hcy) has emerged as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However the relationship of physical activity (PA) with Hcy levels in the elderly is controversial. Accordingly, the current study examined the effect of low and high participation in PA on serum Hcy in young (n = 77; 18-50 years) and old (n = 207; > 65 years) males (n = 141) and females (n = 142). Level of PA was obtained in a 1-to-1 interview and participants divided into low and high groups. Serum Hcy, folate, and vitamin B12 were obtained after 12 hour fast drawn by venipuncture. Levels of Hcy correlated with folate (r = -0. 5; p = 0.000) and vitamin B12 (r = -0.3; p = 0.000). The ANOVA revealed a main effect of PA for Hcy (p = 0.04) but not for folate (p = 0.2) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.2). Main effects were found also of age for Hcy (p = 0.000) and folate (p = 0.005) as well as of gender for Hcy (p = 0.000) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.000). Subsequent ANCOVA showed lower levels of Hcy in the participants with greater versus lower PA even after controlling for B12 vitamin. These results confirm the importance of the vitamins for regulating Hcy levels. Additionally, the data suggests that PA affects Hcy levels without affecting and independent of B vitamins in the elderly.