Effects of the combination of vitamins C and E supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle soreness, and muscle strength following acute physical exercise: meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Background

The combined supplementation of vitamins C and E potentially can mitigate oxidative stress (OS) and accelerate recovery following exercise. However, there is little evidence and a lack of consensus on the effects of these vitamins for this purpose. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence on the effects of the combined supplementation of vitamins C and E in OS, inflammatory markers, muscle damage, muscle soreness, and musculoskeletal functionality following acute exercise.

Methods

The search was carried out from inception until March 2021, on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and SPORT Discus. We included placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of combined supplementation of vitamins C and E in OS, inflammatory markers, muscle damage, muscle soreness, and muscle strength following a single bout of exercise. Random-effect meta-analyses were used to compare pre to post-exercise mean changes in subjects who received supplementation with vitamins C and E or placebo versus controls. Data are presented as standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

Eighteen RCTs, accounting for data from 322 individuals, were included. The use of vitamins attenuated lipid peroxidation (SMD= -0.703; 95% CI= -1.035 to -0.372; p < 0.001), IL-6 (SMD= -0.576; 95%CI= -1.036 to -0.117; p = 0.014), and cortisol levels (SMD= -0.918; 95%CI= -1.475 to -0.361; p = 0.001) immediately, and creatine kinase levels 48 h following exercise (SMD= -0.991; 95%CI= -1.611 to -0.372; p = 0.002). Supplementing the combination of vitamins had no effects on protein carbonyls, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio, catalase, interleukin-1Ra, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, muscle soreness, and muscle strength.

Conclusion

Prior supplementation of the combination of vitamins C and E attenuates OS (lipid peroxidation), the inflammatory response (interleukin-6), cortisol levels, and muscle damage (creatine kinase) following a session of exercise.