The effects of vitamin C supplementation on symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 8 days of vitamin C (VC) supplementation on elbow flexor delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) to 8 days of placebo ingestion.


METHODS
For 3 days prior to an exercise bout (2 x 20 eccentric elbow extensions), and for 5 days after, a treatment group ingested 3 x 1000 mg/day of VC versus 3 x 50 mg/day of glucose ingestion for the placebo group over the same time period. All subjects were prescreened via dietary recall to exclude any subjects with habitual VC consumption greater than 400 mg/day. Subject comprised 24 subjects (male and female) randomly divided into 2 groups of 12 subjects. Treatment group comprised 5 females and placebo group comprised 8 females.


RESULTS
Data from a repeated measures ANOVA indicate that DOMS was successfully induced in both groups via significant time effects for strength loss (P = 0.0001), point tenderness (P = 0.0001), elbow flexor decreased range of motion (P = 0.013), and subjective pain (P = 0.0001). However, there were no significant between group differences in response to any of the aforementioned variables: strength loss (P = 0.202), point tenderness (P = 0.824), elbow flexor range of motion (P = 0.208), subjective pain (P = 0.342).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that a VC supplementation protocol of 3 x 1000 mg/day for 8 days is ineffective in protecting against selected markers of DOMS.
Connolly
D A J
DA
Human Performance Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
Lauzon
C
C
Agnew
J
J
Dunn
M
M
Reed
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid