title: Influence of vitamin C supplementation on cytokine changes following an ultramarathon.
abstract: The influence of vitamin C supplementation on the pattern of change in plasma cytokine concentrations was measured in 29 runners following a 90-km ultramarathon. The study was based on a 3 (groups) by 4 (blood samples at 16 prerace, postrace, and 24 h and 48 h postrace) repeated measures design. Groups included placebo control (n = 7) and two groups supplementing vitamin C at 500 mg/day (vit C-500, n = 10) or 1500 mg/day (vit C-1500, n = 12) for 7 days before the race, on race day, and for 2 days after the race. All measured plasma cytokine concentrations were significantly elevated immediately postrace, with the magnitude of increase for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) much smaller than for IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA). Cortisol increased in all groups immediately after the race but significantly less in the vit C-1500 group. Group x time interaction statistics were not significant for any of the plasma cytokines. However, when the placebo and vit C-500 groups were combined (n = 17) and compared with the vit C-1500 group (n = 12), immediate postrace plasma concentrations were significantly lower in the vit C-1500 group for IL-1RA (-57%) and IL-10 (-57%), with a trend measured for IL-6 (-27%, p = 0.11) and IL-8 (-26%, p = 0.14). In summary, runners completing the 90-km Comrades Ultramarathon experienced strong increases in concentrations of plasma IL-6, IL-10, IL-1RA, and IL-8. These increases were attenuated in runners ingesting 1500 mg but not 500 mg vitamin C supplements for 1 week prior to the race and on race day.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Health and Exercise Science and Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Nevines
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012420:Running
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone