Protecting antioxidative effects of vitamins E and C in experimental physical stress

Like every redox-active compound vitamin E may exert pro-oxidative and antioxidative effects depending on the reaction partners present. In this work we evaluated the intensity of oxidative stress produced by a physical exercise through swimming as well as of protecting action of antioxidant vitamins E and C. Antioxidant systems include antioxidant enzymes: superoxide-dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as of components with an antioxidant action of the reduced glutathion type (GSH) and vitamins E and C. We determine the activities of these enzymes in the erythrocytes and heart homogenate. Our results points out a protective effect against oxidative stress produced by swimming in animals treated with vitamins E and C, which are expressed through the diminution of the malondialdehyde (MDA) quantity both in erythrocytes and in the heart, and through the conservation of GSH content in both products. CAT and GSH-Px activities decrease while that of SOD increases on both tissues, but with different intensities in accordance with the variation of protection degree performed by the vitamin couple on these tissues. The obtained data underline the necessity of intensifying the means of endogenous antiradical defence with exogenous antioxidant vitamins C and E. This study highlights the need of a proper vitamin supplement in organism under stress.