Folic acid supplementation improves vascular function in amenorrheic runners.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if folic acid supplementation improves endothelial vascular function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation; FMD) in amenorrheic runners.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Academic medical center in the Midwest.


METHODS
Ten amenorrheic and 10 eumenorrheic women runners from the community volunteered for this study.


METHODS
Each participant was treated with folic acid (10 mg/d) for 4 weeks.


METHODS
Brachial artery FMD was measured before and after folic acid supplementation with standard techniques.


RESULTS
The brachial artery FMD response to reactive hyperemia improved after folic acid supplementation in amenorrheic women (3.0% +/- 2.3% vs. 7.7% +/- 4.5%; P = 0.02). In the eumenorrheic control group, there was no change in brachial artery FMD (6.7% +/- 2.0% vs. 5.9% +/- 2.6%; P = 0.52).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that brachial artery FMD, an indicator of vascular endothelial function, improves in amenorrheic female runners after short-term supplementation with folic acid.
Hoch
Anne Z
AZ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226, USA.
Lynch
Stacy L
SL
Jurva
Jason W
JW
Schimke
Jane E
JE
Gutterman
David D
DD
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004106:Dilatation; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D005492:Folic Acid