Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations

1340 High levels of plasma homocysteine are independently associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Little information is available on the role of regular aerobic exercise on plasma homocysteine, and whether there are sex- or race-related differences in exercise training-induced changes in homocysteine. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of relatively long-term regular exercise on plasma homocysteine concentrations in 730 black and white men and women, aged 17 to 65 years. METHODS: Concentrations of plasma total homocysteine were measured by the HPLC method. RESULTS: For the whole cohort, homocysteine levels remained unchanged between baseline (mean ± SD 8.8 ± 4.4 μmol/L) and post exercise training (8.9 ± 3.6 μmol/L). In Blacks, homocysteine levels did not change with training (men −0.5 ± 3.7μmol/L, women 0.0 ± 2.2μmol/L) but increased significantly (p<0.0001) in Whites (men +0.3 ± 1.7μmol/L, women +0.3 ± 1.6μmol/L). In men, there was a racial difference in changes in homocysteine. No sex-related differences were found in either racial group. Change in homocysteine levels were negatively correlated with baseline homocysteine (r = −0.60, p<0.0001). Homocysteine levels of the ‘High (hyperhomocysteinaemia)’ (≥15μmol/L) group decreased (p = 0.008) with regular ecxercise from 23.3 ± 11.9 μmol/L to 19.8 ± 7.6 μmol/L, while the homocysteine levels of the ‘Normal’ (<15μmol/L) group increased (p<0.0001) from 8.2 ± 2.2 μmol/L to 8.5 ± 2.4 μmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: In men, there were racial differences for the homocysteine changes in response to exercise training. Regular exercise had favorable effects on individuals with hyperhomocysteinaemia whereas homocysteine levels increased slightly in individuals within the normal range at baseline. Supported by the NHLBI through Grants HL45670, HL47323, HL47317, HL47327, and HL47321.