Vitamin E supplementation does not increase the vitamin C radical concentration at rest and after exhaustive exercise in healthy male subjects.
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.
Schneider
Matthias
M
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Niess
Andreas M
AM
Rozario
Fabian
F
Angres
Cornelia
C
Tschositsch
Karja
K
Golly
Ines
I
Battenfeld
Nicole
N
Schäffer
Michael
M
Northoff
Hinnak
H
Dickhuth
Hands-H
HH
Fehrenbach
Elvira
E
Trommer
Wolfgang E
WE
Biesalski
Hans K
HK
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*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D014810:Vitamin E; C000820:semidehydroascorbic acid; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid