title: The effects of exercise training and acute exercise duration on plasma folate and vitamin B12.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Energy production and the rebuilding and repair of muscle tissue by physical activity require folate and vitamin B12 as a cofactor. Thus, this study investigated the effects of regular moderate exercise training and durations of acute aerobic exercise on plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in moderate exercise trained rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty rats underwent non-exercise training (NT, n = 25) and regular exercise training (ET, n = 25) for 5 weeks. The ET group performed moderate exercise on a treadmill for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. At the end of week 5, each group was subdivided into 4 groups: non-exercise and 3 exercise groups. The non-exercise group (E0) was sacrificed without exercising and the 3 exercise groups were sacrificed immediately after exercising on a treadmill for 0.5 h (E0.5), 1 h (E1), and 2 h (E2). Blood samples were collected and plasma folate and vitamin B12 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After exercise training, plasma folate level was significantly lower and vitamin B12 concentration was significantly higher in the ET group compared with the NT group (P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations. In both the NT and ET groups, plasma folate and vitamin B12 were not significantly changed by increasing duration of aerobic exercise. Plasma folate concentration of E0.5 was significantly lower in the ET group compared with that in the NT group. Significantly higher vitamin B12 concentrations were observed in the E0 and E0.5 groups of the ET group compared to those of the NT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular moderate exercise training decreased plasma folate and increased plasma vitamin B12 levels. However, no significant changes in plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were observed by increasing duration of acute aerobic exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, 33 Samyangro 144-gil, Dong-gu, Seoul 01369, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, 33 Samyangro 144-gil, Dong-gu, Seoul 01369, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, 33 Samyangro 144-gil, Dong-gu, Seoul 01369, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Folic acid; aerobic exercise; physical activity; rodent; vitamin B12