Vitamin C and E supplementation alters protein signalling after a strength training session, but not muscle growth during 10 weeks of training.
This study investigated the effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on acute responses and adaptations to strength training. Thirty-two recreationally strength-trained men and women were randomly allocated to receive a vitamin C and E supplement (1000 mg day(-1) and 235 mg day(-1), respectively), or a placebo, for 10 weeks. During this period the participants' training involved heavy-load resistance exercise four times per week. Muscle biopsies from m. vastus lateralis were collected, and 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and maximal isometric voluntary contraction force, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and muscle cross-sectional area (magnetic resonance imaging) were measured before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the cellular responses to a single exercise session were assessed midway in the training period by measurements of muscle protein fractional synthetic rate and phosphorylation of several hypertrophic signalling proteins. Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis twice before, and 100 and 150 min after, the exercise session (4 × 8RM, leg press and knee-extension). The supplementation did not affect the increase in muscle mass or the acute change in protein synthesis, but it hampered certain strength increases (biceps curl). Moreover, increased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 and p70S6 kinase after the exercise session was blunted by vitamin C and E supplementation. The total ubiquitination levels after the exercise session, however, were lower with vitamin C and E than placebo. We concluded that vitamin C and E supplementation interfered with the acute cellular response to heavy-load resistance exercise and demonstrated tentative long-term negative effects on adaptation to strength training.
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway Norwegian Olympic Federation, Oslo, Norway goran.paulsen@olympiatoppen.no.
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Paulsen
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Hamarsland
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Cumming
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Johansen
Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Hulmi
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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Børsheim
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Wiig
Norwegian Olympic Federation, Oslo, Norway.
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Garthe
Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Raastad
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D009124:Muscle Proteins; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid