The Effect of Vitamins C and E Supplementation on Muscle Damage, Performance, and Body Composition in Athlete Women: A Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Due to the special training conditions and lifestyle athletes require an antioxidant system that is more efficient than others. To keep this system optimal, many of them use antioxidant supplements. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamins C and E supplementation on muscle damage, performance, and body composition in athlete women.

Methods: The study was a 4‑week randomized, double‑blind clinical trial conducted on 64 trained female athletes recruited in Isfahan sports club. They were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups; A: vitamin C (250 mg/day), B: vitamin E (400 IU), C: vitamin C + vitamin E and control (placebo). Harvard Step Test was used to measure maximal oxygen consumption for performance, body composition, and damage marker (myoglobin) were measured before and after the intervention.

Results: Comparing the result of the test in performance of sport, there was no significant difference between groups in VO2 max. Also, vitamin supplements had no significant effect on subcutaneous fat between the groups, however, in the intergroup comparison, were significantly increased in group control (P = 0.03). But, there were no significant differences, change in myoglobin between the groups. There was a significant increase in group A (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Vitamins C and E supplementation had no significant effect on any of the studied parameters.

Keywords: Body composition, clinical trial, vitamin supplementation, female athlete, muscle damage, performance, vitamin C, vitamin E