title: Effect of physical activity on levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alomari
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.|c Department of Biology, Faculty of Science , Taibah University , Madinah Munawara , Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Omar F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Khabour
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Mohammad Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Gharaibeh
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Redha A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Qhatan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Folate; Homocysteine; Jordan; Physical activity; Vitamin B12