Post-exercise vitamin C supplementation and recovery from demanding exercise

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Sports Science

Background:

• Unaccustomed exercise can induce muscle damage and inflammation.
• Antioxidants, like vitamin C, are hypothesized to aid recovery by combating oxidative stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if post-exercise vitamin C supplementation enhances recovery from a demanding exercise bout.
• To investigate the impact of vitamin C on markers of muscle damage, inflammation, and perceived soreness.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen male subjects performed a 90-minute intermittent shuttle-running test.
• Subjects received either vitamin C (200 mg) or a placebo after exercise and for the following 2 days.
• Measurements included plasma vitamin C, creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukin-6, malondialdehyde, muscle soreness, and muscle function.

Main Results:

• Plasma vitamin C levels were elevated in the supplemented group for 3 days post-exercise.
• No significant differences were observed in creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukin-6, or malondialdehyde between groups.
• Muscle soreness and recovery of muscle function were similar in both vitamin C and placebo groups.

Conclusions:

• Post-exercise vitamin C supplementation does not appear to accelerate recovery from unaccustomed exercise.
• The findings suggest that either free radicals are not key contributors to delayed recovery or that post-exercise administration is ineffective.