Vitamin E and immunity after the Kona Triathlon World Championship.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the influence of vitamin E ingestion on oxidative stress and immune changes in response to the Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.


METHODS
Thirty-eight triathletes received vitamin E (VitE) (800 IU x d(-1) alpha-tocopherol) or placebo (Pla) capsules in randomized, double-blind fashion for 2 months before the race event. Blood, urine, and saliva samples were collected the day before the race, 5-10 min postrace, and 1.5 h postrace.


RESULTS
Race times did not differ between VitE (N = 19, 721 +/- 24 min) and Pla groups (N = 17, 719 +/- 27 min, P = 0.959), and both groups maintained an intensity of approximately 80% maximum heart rate during the bike and run portions. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was approximately 75% higher in the VitE versus Pla group prerace (24.1 +/- 1.1 and 13.8 +/- 1.1 micromol x L(-1), P < 0.001, respectively) and postrace. Plasma F2-isoprostanes increased 181% versus 97% postrace in the VitE versus Pla groups (P = 0.044). IL-6 was 89% higher (166 +/- 28 and 88 +/- 13 pg x mL(-1), respectively, P = 0.016), IL-1ra was 107% higher (4848 +/- 1203 and 2341 +/- 790 pg x mL(-1), respectively, P = 0.057), and IL-8 was 41% higher postrace in the VitE versus Pla groups (26.0 +/- 3.6 and 18.4 +/- 2.4 pg x mL(-1), respectively, P = 0.094).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that vitamin E (800 IU x d(-1) for 2 months) compared with placebo ingestion before a competitive triathlon race event promotes lipid peroxidation and inflammation during exercise.
Nieman
David C
DC
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Fischer Hamilton/Nycom Biochemistry Laboratory, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA. niemandc@appstate.edu
Henson
Dru A
DA
McAnulty
Steven R
SR
McAnulty
Lisa S
LS
Morrow
Jason D
JD
Ahmed
Alaa
A
Heward
Chris B
CB
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D016207:Cytokines; D014810:Vitamin E