Effects of the antioxidant supplementation in athletes on the exercise-induced oxidative stress

Several authors have reported that physical exercise leads to an increased generation of reactive oxygen species and consequently to lipid and protein peroxidation. Elevation in the lipid peroxidation indices is related to the exercise intensity and duration and is significantly less pronounced in the trained subjects than in the untrained ones. Some authors have shown no effect of the physical exercise on the lipid peroxidation parameters. A number of studies however, demonstrated the exercise-induced increase in the lipid peroxidation indices even in the well-trained athletes and after the sub maximal exercise. Supplementation of individuals with no apparent vitamin deficiency with antioxidant vitamins does not appear to effect their performance. Sufficient doses of vitamin E, vitamin C, CoQ(10) etc, may offer protection from exercise-induced muscle damages and lipid peroxidation, although the available data in this regard are quiter inconsistent Presumably, physiological tissue levels of antioxidants in trained, healthy men can effectively ward of the development of the exercise-induced oxidative stress. On the other hand, it is possible that supplementation with antioxidants prevents oxidative tissue damage even though this effect may sometimes be undetectable when changes of the lipid peroxidation parameters in the blood are estimated Moreover, there are evidences that supplementation with a antioxidant improves physical health of the athletes. It should also be stressed that a prolonged heavy exercise increases consumption of certain antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ(10) and some minerals. Therefore, supplementation with antioxidants can be recommended in athletes and other physically hard-working individuals.