BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma homocysteine level is closely associated with an increased risk of developing peripheral vascular disease, atherothrombotic coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Thus, it is considered an important cardiovascular risk factor. OBJECTIVES. This study was designed to look into the results of both aerobic and anaerobic exercises on homocysteine and cardiovascular risk factors (insulin, cholesterol, and aerobic capacity) in people with type 2 diabetes and to compare them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized clinical experiment with a prospective design. It was conducted at El-Sherouk Public Hospital, Physical Therapy Department. 40 males with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into two groups. Aerobic activities were performed by group (A), whereas resistance training was performed by group (B). Patients' blood homocysteine, insulin, and cholesterol levels and ability to complete a 6-minute walk test were assessed at the start of the intervention and twelve weeks post-intervention. RESULTS: All outcome indicators improved significantly, favoring Group (A) over Group (B) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercises have a higher effect than resistance exercises in lowering homocysteine cardiovascular risk factors (in-sulin and cholesterol and improving aerobic fitness) in type 2 diabetic patients.

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