Does a 100-km walking affect indicators of vitamin status?

The status of thiaminThe status of thiamin (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), ascorbi c acid (AA), and tocopherol was determined in 60 leisure athletes (age 46 /- 10 y, BMI 23.7 +/-2.0 kg.m(-2), VO2max 39.4 +/- 6.5 ml.min(-1).kg(-1)), who completed a 100-km walking race. Vitamin plasma levels and activities o f erythrocyte transketolase (ETK) and glutathione reductase were measured b efore start, immediately after finishing and 6 hours later. The participato rs finished entire distance in 14.25 h (average speed 7 km.h(-1)). Before s tart. all participators showed an excellent vitamin status (prevalences of low vitamin status ranged between 1.7 and 1.8%). Plasma tocopherol concentr ations correlated significantly with increased age (r = 0.35, p = 0.008). C ompared to the values before start, plasma concentrations of B-1 and B-2 as well as ETK and/or EGR were increased significantly after finishing. The T he raised levels persisted 6 hours after finishing, whereas AA remained una ltered. The univariate analysis of variance revealed;that the change in vit amin status after finish and 6 hours later was in part highly dependent on age, BMI and the level of physical fitness. Despite the long distance. the extensive character of the 100-km walking with its low intensity did not de teriorate the measured indicators of vitamin status.