The effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise program on the homocysteine level and VO2max in young non-athlete men Print

An elevated homocysteine level is a serious risk factor among the cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise on the homocysteine level and VO2max and also to determine the correlation between the homocysteine level and VO2max. In this quasi-experimental study، 28 male students from Iran University of Science and Technology، who passed the primary physical training course، were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups (age= 19. 14±1. 24، weight= 70. 13±11. 76 kg، height= 175. 42±5. 86 cm، body fat percentage= 19. 11±5. 98). Blood samples were taken from each participant in both groups and the experimental group performed the Bruce test (VO2max) and an eight-week aerobic exercise program three times a week with the intensity near 60-75 percent of maximum heart rate. Results of this study showed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the homocysteine level in posttest (P=0. 75)، but a significant difference was seen between the two groups in VO2max (P=0. 0001). However، no significant correlation was seen between the homocysteine level and VO2max (P=0. 40، r=0. 16). Although an eight-week aerobic exercise program in young non-athlete men has no significant effect on the homocysteine level، it can increase the Vo2max.