Effects of exercise training on stroke risk factors, homocysteine concentration, and cognitive function according the APOE genotype in stroke patients

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene has been suggested to be associated with stroke and dementia. However, the effects of exercise training on dementia according to the APOE genotype are not consistent to those reported by previous studies. Therefore, we examined the effects of exercise training on stroke risk factors including blood pressure, lipid profiles, homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations, and cognitive function according to the APOE genotype in stroke patients. We examined the stroke risk factors, Hcy, and cognitive function in 28 ischemic stroke patients before and after 6 months of exercise training. After exercise training, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat decreased significantly in both APOE groups. According to the APOE genotype, the changes in BMI in the APOE ɛ4 group higher than those in APOE ɛ3 group significantly. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C, triglyceride (TG), and Hcy decreased and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C increased significantly in the both groups. According to the APOE genotype, systolic blood pressure in the APOE ɛ4 group decreased, but in the APOE ɛ3 group increased after exercise training. TC, LDL-C, and TG in the APOE ɛ4 group decreased more extensively than those in the APOE ɛ3 group after exercise training. VO(2max) (maximal oxygen consumption) and cognition increased significantly in both groups. Folate acid intake also increased significantly in both groups. The APOE genotype affects variations in the risk factors of stroke after exercise training. However, the Hcy and cognitive function did not differ based on the APOE genotype.