Found some interesting stuff while looking around on PubMed and thought I would post it. Hope I dont get banned for posting studies like Merlin.
1: J Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):792-800.
Effects of vitamin E and C supplementation either alone or in combination on
exercise-induced lipid peroxidation in trained cyclists.
Bryant RJ, Ryder J, Martino P, Kim J, Craig BW.
Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Munice, Indiana 47306, USA.
Seven trained male cyclists (ate 22.3 2 years) participated in 4 separate
supplementation phases. They ingested 2 capsules per day containing the
following treatments: placebo (placebo plus placebo); vitamin C (1 g per day
vitamin C plus placebo); vitamin C and E (1 g per day vitamin C plus 200 IU per
kg vitamin E); and vitamin E (400 IU per kg vitamin E plus placebo). The
treatment order (placebo, vitamin C, vitamin C and E, and vitamin E) was the
same for all subjects. Performance trials consisting of a 60-minute steady state
ride (SSR) and a 30-minute performance ride (PR) on Cybex 100 Metabolic cycles
were performed after each trial. Workloads of 70% of the VO2max were set for the
SSR and PR rides, with pedal rate maintained at 90 rpm (SSR) or self determined
(PR). Blood samples (5 ml) were drawn pre- and postexercise and analyzed for
malonaldehyde (MDA) and lactic acid. The results indicate that vitamin E
treatment was more effective than vitamin C alone or vitamin C and E.
Pre-exercise plasma levels of MDA in the vitamin E trial was 39% below the
pre-exercise MDA levels of the placebo: 2.94 0.54 and 4.81 0.65 micromol
per ml, respectively. Plasma MDA following exercise in the vitamin E group was
also lower than teh placebo: 4.32 0.37 vs 7.89 1.0 micromol per ml,
respectively. Vitamin C supplementation, on the other hand, elevated both the
resting and exercise plasma levels of MDA. None of th supplemental phases had
any significant effect on performance. In conclusion, the results indicate that
400 IU/day of vitamin E reduces membrane damage more effectively than vitamin C
but does not enhance performance. Athletes are encouraged to include
antioxidants, such as vitamin E and C, in their diet to counteract these
detrimental effects of exercise. The data presented here suggests that 400
IU/day of vitamin E will provide adequate protection but supplementing the diet
with 1 g per day of vitamin C may promote cellular damage. However neither of
these vitamins, either alone or in combination, will enhance exercise
performance.
Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Controlled Clinical Trial
PMID: 14666945 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]