title: Vitamin E supplementation does not increase the vitamin C radical concentration at rest and after exhaustive exercise in healthy male subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extensive exercise may promote the formation of reactive oxygen species and subsequently contribute to tissue damage. A compound which can protect cells and tissues is vitamin E. The vitamin E radical, formed during the radical scavenging process, can be reduced by vitamin C resulting in a higher level of the vitamin C radical (semidehydroascorbate free radical). An increase of the vitamin C radical, however, is assumed to exert prooxidative effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate whether supplementation of vitamin E and exhaustive exercise lead to an increase of the vitamin C radical in human plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A placebo controlled, cross over study with 13 male volunteers was carried out. After an 8 day supplementation period with 500 I.U. D-alpha-tocopherol, the subjects performed two exhaustive treadmill runs. Blood samples were collected at rest, 0, 0.25, 1, 3, 24 and 48 h after exercise. Serum was separated and concentrations of D-alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid were determined by HPLC. Vitamin C radical levels in plasma were assessed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitamin E and C both showed a tendency to decrease between 3 h and 24 h after exercise. Vitamin C radical level remained stable during the whole period. Neither vitamin E supplementation nor exercise had any influence on the plasma concentration of the vitamin C radical.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin E supplementation under conditions of mild oxidative stress does not result in an increased vitamin C radical concentration.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Niess
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rozario
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angres
authors.forename: Karja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tschositsch
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Golly
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Battenfeld
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäffer
authors.forename: Hinnak
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Northoff
authors.forename: Hands-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Dickhuth
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fehrenbach
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Trommer
authors.forename: Hans K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Biesalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D014810:Vitamin E; C000820:semidehydroascorbic acid; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid