Effects of folic acid combined with resistance training on body composition and blood biomarkers in adult males.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the effects of folic acid supplementation combined with resistance training on body composition, homocysteine (Hcy), and lipid-related biomarkers in adult males.

METHODS

Forty healthy male college students were recruited and randomly divided into four groups: control, resistance training (RT), folic acid supplementation (FA), and resistance training + folic acid supplementation (RF) condition (n = 10 each). The intervention lasted for 8 weeks, preceded by a 1-week testing period. The RT and RF followed the same resistance training program. The FA and RF participants consumed 0.4 mg folic acid daily, whereas the control participants received one appearance-matched placebo tablet daily. Body composition, Hcy concentration, blood lipids, and folic acid concentration were measured before and after the 8-week intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Descriptive statistics are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Paired t tests were used to compare pre- and postintervention data within groups, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences between groups. A significance level of P < 0.05 was used.

RESULTS

Regarding body composition, the RF produced the greatest increase in skeletal muscle mass (SMM; + 4.79 ± 2.42 kg), which was significantly larger than the increases observed in the control (+0.96 ± 1.50 kg), FA (+1.03 ± 1.68 kg), and RT (+0.91 ± 1.12 kg) (all P < 0.01). Body fat mass (BFM) decreased most in the RF (-1.49 ± 1.40 kg), differing significantly from the control (+0.24 ± 1.71 kg; P < 0.01) and FA (+0.04 ± 1.18 kg; P < 0.05). Additionally, the RF showed a significantly greater decrease in body fat percentage (BFP) than the FA (P < 0.05). In terms of blood biomarkers, Hcy decreased significantly in the RF relative to the control and RT (both P < 0.05), and HDL-C increased more in the RF (+0.21 ± 0.24 mmol/L) than in the control (-0.01 ± 0.12 mmol/L; P < 0.01) and FA (+0.02 ± 0.16 mmol/L; P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences were detected for folic acid concentration, TC, TG, or LDL-C.

CONCLUSIONS

Folic acid supplementation combined with resistance training was associated with greater gains in skeletal muscle mass, greater reductions in body fat mass, lower Hcy, and higher HDL-C than either intervention alone. These favorable biomarker changes may contribute to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease; however, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary rather than definitive evidence of cardiometabolic benefit.