Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Vitamin E on the Plasma Levels of Antioxidant Vitamins and Inflammatory Markers, and on Erythrocyte Antioxidant Enzyme Activities, in Male Basketball Players

Strenuous aerobic exercise is associated with oxidative stress and tissue damage. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of exercise and eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation, with or without vitamin E, on the plasma levels of vitamin C, E and A, IL-6, and glutathione peroxidase activity in basketball players. Thirty four male basketball players, enrolled in the study. Subjects received 2g EPA and/or 400 IU vitamin E or placebo depending on their groups. For 6 weeks, eight subjects took a daily EPA supplement together with vitamin E (group 1), nine received an EPA supplement together with placebo (group 2), nine were administered placebo along with vitamin E (group 3), and finally, eight subjects received placebo alone (group 4). As compared with group 4 (placebo), there were significant increases in vitamins C, E, and A in groups 1 and 3, but significant decreases in these parameters in group2 (P < 0.01). In addition, there were significant decreases in IL-6 in groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.01), whereas there were significant increases in glutathione peroxidase in groups1 and 3 (P < 0.01).There were significant differences in vitamin C between groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05), and in vitamin E between groups 1 and 2, and groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.01), and in vitamin A between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05), and groups 1 and 4, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 (P < 0.01), and in IL-6 between groups1 and 2 (P < 0.05), groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.01), 2 and 3 (P < 0.01), 2 and 4 (P < 0.01), and 3 and 4 (P < 0.05).