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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 < 0.050). Conclusion: According to our findings, vitamins C and E supplementation can be beneficial in reducing muscle damage indices during aerobic exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is inadequate awareness about the effects anaerobic activity and vitamin supplementation on oxidative stress indices and cell membrane lipid peroxidation. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of supplementation with vitamins C and E on malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) after anaerobic activity in teenage water polo players. Methods: In this semi-experimental, double-blind research, 16 water polo players with at least two years of professional experience were selected (mean age: 15.00 ± 0.06 years, mean height: 162.00 ± 0.08 cm, mean weight: 58.0 ± 7.1 kg). They were randomized to placebo and supplement groups to receive either dextrose (400 IU with 250 ml water) or a combination of vitamin E (200 IU) and vitamin C (400 mg) for 14 days. At baseline and on day 15, blood samples were collected before and immediately and 30 minutes after the participants had performed 100m freestyle swimming with maximum speed. Differences between groups were analyzed using combined analysis of variance in SPSS18. The level of significance was considered as 0.05. Findings: Supplementation significantly decreased level of MDA and activity of GPX, CAT, and SOD. In addition, TAC was increased in the supplement group. Conclusion: Supplementation with vitamins C and E supplementation clearly increases TAC against oxidative stress. It can thus reduce the degenerative effects of oxidants on cell membrane and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]