Short-Term Combined Intake of Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E Decreases Plasma Homocysteine Concentrations in Female Track Athletes

Abstract

Female athletes who endure physical strain on the same bone area are prone to stress fractures. Preventing these improves their quality of life. Blood vitamin B2 (V.B2) and E (V.E) levels influence blood homocysteine (Hcy) levels, which, when elevated, increase the risk of stress fractures. We aimed to determine the effects of V.B2 and V.E supplementation on plasma Hcy concentrations in these athletes carrying the C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). This study is a before–after study in 16 female athletes. It was divided into three intervention periods of V.B2 (28 mg/day), V.E (60 mg/day), and V.B2 + V.E intake, and each period was 14 days. Blood samples were collected before and after each period, and plasma Hcy concentration and each blood vitamin concentration were measured. Plasma Hcy concentration significantly decreased in all periods, but the maximum lowering effect was obtained when V.B2 and V.E were used in combination. The administration of V.B2 might have lowered the plasma Hcy level by maximizing the catalytic activity of MTHFR; V.E might have suppressed cell oxidation, increasing the efficiency of folate in lowering the plasma Hcy level. We propose the combined intake of V.B2 and V.E as effective nutrients to reduce plasma Hcy concentrations in female athletes with MTHFR polymorphisms.