Strenuous exercises cause metabolic as well as mechanical stresses on your body. The increased energy demand for doing strenuous exercises increases oxygen consumption in the tissues.1

 

 

Increased oxygen consumption ultimately increases the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS). ROS is the key source of oxidative stress and plays most important role in the process of muscle damage through oxidation of the ion transport systems. The increase in ROS production leads to increase in the antioxidant defense system activity, and thus, reduces the reserves of antioxidant. This leads to increased susceptibility of the tissues to oxidative stress.1

 

 

Studies suggests that intense exercise may require antioxidant supplements to prevent oxidative stress and protect from muscle damage. Several antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and flavonoids have been introduced to protect the cells from free radicals. The antioxidant supplements may delay oxidative stress that is caused by the effect of exercise on blood and skeletal muscle. Thus, it helps to reduce force loss as well as low frequency fatigue caused due toexercise.2

 

 

Taghiyar M, etal in a four-week randomized, double-blind clinical study investigated the effects of vitamin E(400 IU) and C(250mg/ day) supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in 64 female athletes. The results showed that vitamin E and vitamin C supplements reduced the muscle damage markers through a significant reduction in creatine kinase (p<0.05). Thus, vitamin E (400 IU)and C supplements plays a vital role in reducing muscle damage markers of strenuous exercises.1

 

In another study Silva et al., investigated the effects of vitamin E supplementation on muscular and oxidative damage on 21 participants induced by eccentric exercise. Vitamin E significantly increased TNF-alpha on the second day and IL-10 concentration on the fourth and seventh days after eccentric exercise. Thus, study results revealed that vitamin E supplementation was an important factor in the defense against oxidative stress and muscle damage.1

 

Shafat A, et al.in a single bling, randomised two group study assessed the effectiveness of prophylactic supplementation with vitamin E and C on muscle damage caused due to eccentric exercise in 12 male volunteers. The study results showed that prior supplementation with dietary antioxidants such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C improves the decrease in muscle functional caused due to intense exercises.2

 

References:

1. Taghiyar M, Darvishi L, Askari G, et al. The effect of vitamin C and e supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress in female athletes: a clinical trial. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(Suppl 1): S16-S23.
2. Shafat A, Butler P, Jensen RL, Donnelly AE. Effects of dietary supplementation with vitamins C and E on muscle function during and after eccentric contractions in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Oct;93(1-2):196-202.
3. Santos SA, Silva ET, Caris AV, Lira FS, Tufik S, Dos Santos RV. Vitamin E supplementation inhibits muscle damage and inflammation after moderate exercise in hypoxia. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2016;29(4):516-522.doi:10.1111/jhn.12361