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Increase in homocysteine levels after a half-marathon running: a detrimental metabolic effect of sport?

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Abstract

Objective

The homocysteine level is considered an important cardiocerebral risk factor. Our aim was to investigate the impact of endurance training on the homocysteine cycle in élite and non-élite athletes.

Methods

The level of physical activity was measured using a SenseWear armband in five healthy marathon runners. Two blood samples, the first under basal conditions and the second after running a half marathon, were obtained in all subjects by venepuncture. Biochemical parameters, including total homocysteine levels, were assessed.

Results

Armband data indicated that each athlete ran the half marathon keeping a race pace close to their anaerobic threshold speed. Although the run times were very different between élite and non-élite athletes, a statistically significant increase in plasma homocysteine levels (p=0.026) was observed in all runners.

Conclusion

Endurance training for 75–100 min held at a race pace close to the anaerobic threshold speed induces an increase in serum plasma homocysteine level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Sciences, Nutrition and Health Faculty of Exercise Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Stefano Benedini, Alice Caimi, Giampietro Alberti, Nicoletta Dellerma, Antonio La Torre & Livio Luzi

  2. Internal Medicine, Section of Nutrition/Metabolism San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Istituto Scientifico H San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Ileana Terruzzi & Livio Luzi

Authors
  1. Stefano Benedini
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  2. Alice Caimi
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  3. Giampietro Alberti
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  4. Ileana Terruzzi
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  5. Nicoletta Dellerma
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  6. Antonio La Torre
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  7. Livio Luzi
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Correspondence to Livio Luzi.

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Benedini, S., Caimi, A., Alberti, G. et al. Increase in homocysteine levels after a half-marathon running: a detrimental metabolic effect of sport?. Sport Sci Health 6, 35–41 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-010-0094-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-010-0094-6

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