Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Isfahan Medical School 1027-7595 30 216 2013 01 20 Effects of Vitamins C and E Supplementation on Muscle Damage and Oxidative Stress in Female Athletes: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial Effects of Vitamins C and E Supplementation on Muscle Damage and Oxidative Stress in Female Athletes: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial 2113 2124 13957 FA Maryam Taghiyar MSc Student, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Food Science and Nutrition AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Reza Ghiasvand Assistant Professor, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Food Science and Nutrition, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Awat Feizi Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Gholamreza Askari Assistant Professor, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Food Science and Nutrition, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Nafiseh Shokri MSc Student, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Food Science and Nutrition AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2012 08 27 Background: The need for energy in strenuous exercises necessitates increased oxygen consumption and hence increased production of reactive oxygen species. It seems that vitamins C and E supplementation reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamins C and E supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes. Methods: This four-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial, recruited 64 trained female athletes from gyms in Isfahan, Iran. The subjects were randomly assigned to groups A-D and received vitamin C (250 mg/day), vitamin E (400 international units), both vitamins C and E, and placebo. Blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to measure muscle damage indices, i.e. aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde. Findings: Among muscle damage indices, only creatine kinase levels significantly reduced between groups at the end of the study (P = 0.030). Considering within group differences, creatine kinase significantly decreased in group A (P = 0.002). No within or between group differences were observed in aspartate aminotransferase levels. Lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly decreased in group B (P = 0.020). Significant reductions in malondialdehyde levels were also detected in groups A, C and D (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, vitamins C and E supplementation can be beneficial in reducing muscle damage indices during aerobic exercises. Keywords: Oxidative stress, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Supplementation, Female athlete, Muscle damage, Clinical trial Background: The need for energy in strenuous exercises necessitates increased oxygen consumption and hence increased production of reactive oxygen species. It seems that vitamins C and E supplementation reduces exercise-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamins C and E supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes. Methods: This four-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial, recruited 64 trained female athletes from gyms in Isfahan, Iran. The subjects were randomly assigned to groups A-D and received vitamin C (250 mg/day), vitamin E (400 international units), both vitamins C and E, and placebo. Blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to measure muscle damage indices, i.e. aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, and malondialdehyde. Findings: Among muscle damage indices, only creatine kinase levels significantly reduced between groups at the end of the study (P = 0.030). Considering within group differences, creatine kinase significantly decreased in group A (P = 0.002). No within or between group differences were observed in aspartate aminotransferase levels. Lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly decreased in group B (P = 0.020). Significant reductions in malondialdehyde levels were also detected in groups A, C and D (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our findings, vitamins C and E supplementation can be beneficial in reducing muscle damage indices during aerobic exercises. Keywords: Oxidative stress, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Supplementation, Female athlete, Muscle damage, Clinical trial https://jims.mui.ac.ir/article_13957_d203bbe1b9e242a034b376bafda15a99.pdf