Aim:
This study sought to discover whether antioxidant treatment, either in the form of vitamin C and E supplements or an encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrate (FVB) could help attenuate exercise-induced increases in oxidative stress.
Methods:
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers divided 48 aerobically trained men and women into 3 groups. Group 1 took vitamins C (1000mg) and E (400IU), Group 2 took a fruit vegetable and berry juice powder concentrate (Juice Plus+®; 6 caps/day), and Group 3 took a placebo for 2 weeks. During the study period, participants were instructed to eat their normal diets. Volunteers ran for 30 minutes at 80% VO2max before, after 2 weeks of supplementation, and after a 1-week washout period. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after exercise and analyzed for several markers of oxidative stress: protein carbonyls (PC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).
Results:
All three groups showed elevated levels of PC after intense exercise. However, the vitamin and the FVB interventions attenuated the exercise-induced increase, both immediately after the 2-week supplementation period (21% attenuation for vitamins and 17% attenuation for FVB) and after the 1-week washout period (13% attenuation for vitamins and 6% attenuation for FVB). MDA and 8-OHdG levels were not affected by either treatment.
Conclusion:
“In conclusion, it was shown that antioxidant supplementation with vitamin C + E or a mixed fruit and vegetable juice concentrate can attenuate the rise in protein oxidation observed after an acute 30-min run at 80% VO2max”.
PubMed link: