Studies regarding the effects of an antioxidant compound in top athletes

The authors performed a controlled trial in 15 top junior athletes (road cyclists) in order to make evident some antioxidant effects of a new compound, containing selenium, vitamin E, glutathion and cysteine, prepared as tablets. Nonproteic -SH and lipid peroxides (MDA) in blood have been recorded initially on basal conditions and 3 weeks later--during the time the athletes received daily, before training session, 2 h cycling on road about 70km--2 tablets of the antioxidant product (respectively placebo). Then, after one week we applied the cross over method. 3 weeks of antioxidant treatment induced significant increase of the nonproteic -SH and significant decrease of the lipid peroxides (MDA), especially in comparison with placebo treatment. These results support the idea of some antioxidant effects of this compound which might be useful in the biological preparation of endurance athletes.