Associations between vitamin E, oxidative stress markers, total homocysteine levels, and physical activity or cognitive capacity in older adults

This study examined the associations between vitamin E, oxidative stress markers, total homocysteine levels, and physical activity or cognitive capacity in older adults. One hundred and six older adults (62 men, 44 women) within the age range of 56-81 years participated. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment were used to assess physical activity and cognitive function, respectively. Vitamin E (e.g., alpha -tocopherol and gamma -tocopherol), oxidative stress markers (e.g., total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide), and total homocysteine were estimated. There were significant associations between physical activity (high versus moderate versus poor) and all biomarkers (all p=0.000, and p=0.010 for gamma -tocopherol). While total homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity were significantly associated with cognitive capacity (p=0.000), vitamin E levels (e.g., alpha -tocopherol and gamma -tocopherol) and nitric oxide (p=0.354, 0.103 and 0.060, respectively) were not related to cognitive capacity in older adults. This study concludes that physical activity was associated with Vitamin E, oxidative stress markers, total homocysteine, and cognitive capacity in older adults. Although cognitive capacity was associated with total homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity, it was unrelated to vitamin E levels and nitric oxide in older adults.

Automated summary

This study found that physical activity in older adults was associated with vitamin E, oxidative stress markers, total homocysteine, and cognitive capacity, while cognitive capacity was only related to total homocysteine and total antioxidant capacity, not to vitamin E levels and nitric oxide.