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

Abstract

Objectives: 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). Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.

Keywords:

• Homocysteine
• Vitamin B₁₂
• Folate
• Physical activity
• Jordan

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Deanship of Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology for supporting the current manuscript (project number: MG-OK 53/2008).

Financial and competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.