Effects of four weeks supplementation of vitamin C on total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde among inactive men after an eccentric exercise

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four weeks supplementation of vitamin C on serum levels of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde among inactive men after an eccentric exercise. Materials and Methods: Twenty non-athletic healthy volunteer men (24 ± 1.6 years old, 22.59 ± 2.62 body fat percentage and 48.96 ± 3.58 mL/kg/min maximum oxygen uptake) were divided into two randomized groups, i.e. vitamin C (1000mg/day) and placebo groups. Four particpants left the study before completion. After four weeks of supplementation, all participants participated in an intermittent aerobic exercise on a treadmill with 80% oxygen consumption (the negative slope of 10 degrees) and ran for 45 minutes. The first blood sample was taken before supplementation, a second blood sample after the end of supplementation period and the third sample immediately after the exercise. Normalized data were analyzed using repeated measures by Bonferroni t-test. Analysis was done using for (SPSS) software version 21. Results: The capacity for total antioxidant (P = .001) and malondialdehyde (P = .001) in sera were significant. Four weeks of vitamin C supplementation also significantly increased the basic total antioxidant capacity. In addition, vitamin C was able to increase the antioxidant capacity after exercise. Conclusion: Supplementation of vitamin C can increase the basic total antioxidant capacity. Adverse changes in oxidative stress-induced activities can reduce damages by aerobic exercises in non-athletic men.