title: The effect of vitamin C and e supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes: a clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The need for energy in strenuous exercises necessitates an increase in oxygen consumption and production of reactive oxygen species. It seems that supplementation of vitamins C and E reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a four-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial, conducted on 64 trained female athletes recruited in the Isfahan sports club. They were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups: (a) vitamin C (250 mg/day), (b) vitamin E (400 IU), (c) vitamin C + vitamin E, and the control (placebo). Aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for assessing muscle damage, and malondialdehyde, were measured before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the between-groups comparison, only creatine kinase significantly changed at the end of the period (P = 0.03). However, in the intergroup comparison creatine kinase was significantly decreased in group 1 (P = 0.002). As for Aspartate aminotransferase, no significant difference was spotted in any of the comparisons. Lactate dehydrogenase was significantly decreased in group 2 (P = 0.02). Finally, this study revealed a significant decrease in oxidative stress markers in groups 1, 3, and 4 (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is induced from the results that vitamin C and E supplementation plays a role in reducing muscle damage markers of aerobic exercises.
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taghiyar
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Darvishi
authors.forename: Gholamrez
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Askari
authors.forename: Awat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feizi
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.forename: Nafiseh Shokri
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mashhadi
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghiasvand
keywords: Vitamin E; female athlete; muscle damage; oxidative stress; vitamin C