Effect of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress markers following thirty minutes moderate intensity exercise in healthy young women

Abstract

The aim of this double blind randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of Vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress following 30 min moderate intensity exercise. Forty-nine healthy young women randomly assigned into 500 mg day-1 vitamin C supplement (n = 25) or placebo (n = 24) groups for two weeks. Before supplementation and on the day after the intervention period, fasting blood samples were taken. Then all participants ran (1.4-1.7 in sec-1) for 30 min. Third blood samples were taken at the end of exercise. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin C were measured using HPLC method. Plasma total glutathione was measured with ELISA method. No significant differences were observed in demographic and vitamin C intakes before intervention between groups. Plasma MDA levels decreased and plasma total glutathione increased significantly (p<0.05) in both groups. No significant differences were observed between groups after exercise. There were significant differences in plasma vitamin C concentrations after intervention and exercise between groups. In conclusion, vitamin C supplementation (500 mg day-1) for two weeks does not affect oxidative stress markers following moderate intensity exercise in healthy young women. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.