Articles about Vitamins

Taking vitamin C and vitamin E prevents metabolic damage associated with extreme exercise

It's good news about vitamins: if you're a marathoner or hitting the physical exercise hard, be sure to take vitamins C and E. New research shows that doing so prevents metabolic damage caused by extreme exercise.

Overview:

- A new study by researchers in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University found that ultramarathon runners who used supplements of vitamins C and E for six weeks prior to their races totally prevented the increase in lipid oxidation that is otherwise associated with extreme exercise.

Half of the runners were given daily supplements of 1,000 milligrams vitamin C and 400 international units of vitamin E for six weeks prior to the race, while the other half ate only their normal, healthy diet.

An analysis of "biomarkers" in the control group that received no supplements showed significant increases in lipid peroxidation following the race - these biomarkers were at levels that are often seen after someone has had a heart attack.

"This study clearly showed that supplementation with these antioxidant vitamins could help prevent the significant levels of lipid oxidation that are associated with intense exercise," said Angela Mastaloudis, an LPI researcher and co-author on the study.

According to Mastaloudis and Maret Traber, a co-author and professor with the Linus Pauling Institute, the findings of this study may have ramifications far beyond just people who undergo unusual exercise regimens.

Oxidative stress and higher levels of lipid oxidation are seen in a wide range of health problems, ranging from diabetes to heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, smoking and even obesity, the researchers said.

"We often can't do dietary studies with people who are very ill, due to ethical concerns, so we used marathon runners to learn more about the effects of stress and ways to prevent damage from it.

Traber and Mastaloudis said they wanted to stress that antioxidant vitamins are no substitute for a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, proper weight and regular exercise.

"However, this study does suggest that people who have high levels of oxidative stress and lipid oxidation due to other chronic health problems might benefit from supplements of vitamin E that are higher than the current RDA for this vitamin," Traber said.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/
2004/07/040715080010.htm