Vitamin D Supplementation and Nordic Walking Training Decreases Serum Homocysteine and Ferritin in Elderly Women

Abstract

The aim of the study was to verify if coupling 12 weeks of vitamin D supplementation and Nordic walking training favoured lowering the homocysteine (Hcy) level. Ninety-four elderly women were divided into three groups: Nordic walking (NW), supplemented (SG) and control (CG). The NW and SG groups received a weekly dose of 28,000 IU of vitamin D3. A blood analysis was performed at baseline, 1h after the first training session and at the end of the experiment. The amino acid profile (methionine and cysteine) and homocysteine concentration were determined. Additionally, the concentration of myokine was assessed. The first session of NW training reduced serum homocysteine, particularly among women with baseline homocysteine above 10 µmol·L^-1: 12.37 ± 2.75 vs. 10.95 ± 3.94 µmol·L^-1 (p = 0.05). These changes were accompanied by shifts in the cysteine (p = 0.09) and methionine (p = 0.01) concentration, regardless of the Hcy concentration. Twelve weeks of training significantly decreased the homocysteine (9.91 ± 2.78, vs. 8.90 ± 3.14 µmol·L^-1, p = 0.05) and ferritin (94.23 ± 62.49 vs. 73.15 ± 47.04 ng·mL^-1, p = 0.05) concentrations in whole NW group. Also, in the NW group, ferritin correlated with the glucose level (r = 0.51, p = 0.00). No changes in the myokine levels were observed after the intervention. Only the brain-derived neurotrophic factor dropped in the NW (42.74 ± 19.92 vs. 31.93 ± 15.91 ng·mL^-1, p = 0.01) and SG (37.75 ± 8.08 vs. 16.94 ± 12.78 ng·mL^-1, p = 0.00) groups. This study presents a parallel decrease of homocysteine and ferritin in response to regular training supported by vitamin D supplementation.

Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); cysteine; methionine; physical training.

Figure 1

Study design.

Figure 2

Changes in cysteine and methionine levels between pre (I) and 1 h after (II) exercise for all participants (white-black stripes) and subgroups with a baseline homocysteine level under 10 µmol·L⁻¹ (white) and over 10 µmol·L⁻¹ (black).

Figure 3

Changes in the resting homocysteine concentration in groups induced by the applied procedure. (A) I—at baseline, II—after 12weeks in NW, control and supplemented groups. (B) Analysis only in the NW Group; marked columns—all participants from the NW group, white columns—participants from the NW group with a baseline homocysteine ≤10 µmol·L⁻¹, black columns—participants from the NW group with a baseline homocysteine >10 µmol·L⁻¹, I—at baseline, II—after 12cweeks of NW training.

Figure 4

Correlation between glucose and ferritin levels recorded after the 12 weeks of the experiment.

Figure 5

Correlation between ferritin and hsCRP at the baseline and in response to 12 weeks of Nordic Walking training in elderly women in a group with a baseline homocysteine < 10 µmol·L⁻¹], (A) baseline, (B) after 12 weeks of training.