Homocysteine as a biomarker of physical activity and exercise tolerance in adolescent children

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Purpose: To determine the homocysteine content in children and adolescents with different levels of physical activity, to establish the relationship between homocysteine content, indicators of physical development, level of physical activity and tolerance to physical activity in adolescence. Material and Methods. We examined 83 children aged 11 to 17 years, who were examined by a pediatrician, an endocrinologist, and the girls by a pediatric gynecologist. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Committee on Bioethics and Deontology. Height, body weight and body mass index were assessed; physical activity tolerance by the Ruffier test; physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire; serum homocysteine was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. 81% of adolescents with high physical activity had regular sports training at least three times a week. In the group with low physical fitness, only 25.6 % attended sports sections, and 44.2 % of adolescents were completely physically inactive. The level of homocysteine in the blood did not depend on the sex of adolescents and physical development. Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia was detected in 41 adolescents, 68.3 % of whom had poor and low exercise tolerance and/or low physical activity. Statistically significantly higher homocysteine levels were observed in children with low physical activity (p<0.05), those who did not have sports training (p=0.027) or had reduced adaptation to physical activity (p<0.01). Conclusions. The level of homocysteine in the blood serum of adolescents did not depend on gender, physical development and the presence of somatic pathology. Low physical activity of adolescents is accompanied by increased levels of homocysteine in the blood. On the contrary, adolescents with high physical activity have lower levels. The lowest levels of homocysteine are observed in adolescents with good to excellent exercise tolerance. Unsatisfactory and weak Ruffier test results are associated with elevated homocysteine levels in adolescents