title: Vitamin C supplementation attenuates the increases in circulating cortisol, adrenaline and anti-inflammatory polypeptides following ultramarathon running.
abstract: The effects of vitamin C supplementation on the alterations in the circulating concentrations of cortisol, adrenaline, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) which accompany ultramarathon running were measured using immuno-chemiluminescence, radioimmunoassay and ELISA procedures. Forty-five participants in the 1999 Comrades 90 km marathon were divided into equal groups (n = 15) receiving 500 mg/day Vit C (VC-500), 1500 mg/day Vit C (VC-1500) or placebo (P) for 7 days before the race, on the day of the race, and for 2 days following completion. Runners recorded dietary intake before, during and after the race and provided 35 ml blood samples 15 - 18 hrs before the race, immediately post-race, 24 hrs post race and 48 hrs post-race. Twenty-nine runners (VC-1500, n = 12; VC-500, n = 10; P, n = 7) complied with all study requirements. All post-race concentrations were adjusted for plasma volume changes. Analyses of dietary intakes and blood glucose and anti-oxidant status on the day preceding the race and the day of the race did not reveal that carbohydrate intake or plasma vitamins E and A were significant confounders in the study. Mean pre-race concentrations of serum vitamin C in VC-500 and VC-1500 groups (128 +/- 31 and 153 +/- 34 micromol/l) were significantly higher than in the P group (83 +/- 39 micromol/l). Immediate post-race serum cortisol was significantly lower in the VC-1500 group (p < 0.05) than in P and VC-500 groups. When the data from VC-500 and P groups was combined (n = 17), immediate post-race plasma adrenaline, IL-10 and IL-1Ra concentrations were also significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the VC-1500 group. The study demonstrates an attenuation, albeit transient, of both the adrenal stress hormone and anti-inflammatory polypeptide response to prolonged exercise in runners who supplemented with 1500 mg vitamin C per day when compared to < or = 500 mg per day.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. futree@med.und.ac.za
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nieman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fickl
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jogessar
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D014801:Vitamin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine