Prolonged vitamin C supplementation and recovery from demanding exercise

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Dec;11(4):466-81. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.11.4.466.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether 2 weeks of vitamin C supplementation affects recovery from an unaccustomed bout of exercise. Sixteen male subjects were allocated to either a placebo (P; n = 8) or vitamin C group (VC; n = 8). The VC group consumed 200 mg of ascorbic acid twice a day, whereas the P group consumed identical capsules containing 200 mg of lactose. Subjects performed a prolonged (90-min) intermittent shuttle-running test 14 days after supplementation began. Post-exercise serum creatine kinase activities and myoglobin concentrations were unaffected by supplementation. However, vitamin C supplementation had modest beneficial effects on muscle soreness, muscle function, and plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde. Furthermore, although plasma interleukin-6 increased immediately after exercise in both groups, values in the VC group were lower than in the P group 2 hours after exercise (p < .05). These results suggest that prolonged vitamin C supplementation has some modest beneficial effects on recovery from unaccustomed exercise.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacokinetics
  • Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacokinetics
  • Creatine Kinase / metabolism*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Free Radicals
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Muscle Fatigue / drug effects*
  • Muscle Fatigue / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / injuries
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Myoglobin / metabolism
  • Pain / prevention & control
  • Running / physiology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Free Radicals
  • Interleukin-6
  • Myoglobin
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Creatine Kinase
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Hydrocortisone