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.