Association of recreational physical activity with homocysteine, folate and lipid markers in young women.
We assessed the influence of recreational physical activity in young healthy women on homocysteine, a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Participants were 124 23-year-old normal-weight Italian recreational athletes (performing 8.7 +/- 2.46 h week(-1) exercise) and 116 controls. Median blood homocysteine, folate and lipid markers did not differ between athletes and controls. Elevated homocysteine levels at CVD risk > or =12.0 and > or =15.0 micromol l(-1) were not different between groups. Continuous homocysteine was inversely related to folate (P < 0.001), positively associated with age (P = 0.009) and creatinine (P = 0.033), but not associated with hours of exercise, body mass index, and lipid markers. Women with folate depletion (<3.0 microg l(-1)) were 4.5-fold more likely to have homocysteine > or =15.0 micromol l(-1). Recreational physical exercise does not adversely impact homocysteine levels among young women. Only low folate significantly increases the risk for hyperhomocysteinemia in young women.
Di Santolo
Manuela
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100, Udine, Italy.
Banfi
Giuseppe
G
Stel
Giuliana
G
Cauci
Sabina
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid