Antioxidant Supplementation Protects Elite Athlete Muscle Integrity During Submaximal Training.

Abstract

To determine (1)the effect of a 40-minute steady-state run on muscle membrane integrity of elite athletes as reflected by serum creatine kinase (CK), (2)whether antioxidant supplementation (AS) with vitamins E and C has a protective effect, and (3)if a minimal blood concentration of vitamin E or C is required for any such protection. Fifteen elite-level endurance athletes (V˙O2max=71.5±1.2 mL·kg-1 min-1) were randomly assigned to 6weeks AS (1000IU·d-1 natural vitamin E and 1000mg·d-1 vitamin C) or placebo. Using a double-blind crossover design and 4-week washout period, each treatment was followed by a 40-minute steady-state run at 3mM blood lactate. Blood samples before and 0 and 24hours after the run were assayed for serum and red cell α-tocopherol (α-TOH), serum ascorbate, and CK. The AS produced a 2.5-fold, well-correlated (r = .84) increase in serum and red cell α-TOH (P < .001) that attenuated the increase in postrun CK (P = .01). There was no change in serum ascorbate with AS and no relationship with CK (P > .1). Curvilinear regression revealed some evidence that a critical level of serum α-TOH in the vicinity of 12mg·L-1 was required to attenuate CK efflux, a level only achieved with AS. The muscle membrane integrity of elite-level athletes is compromised even during steady-state running of moderate intensity and duration. The AS provided a protective effect, with evidence that a serum α-TOH concentration of around 12mg·L-1 is required.