ABSTRACT
There is no convincing evidence about the role of vitamin C in preventing exercise induced oxidative stress. The aim of this double blind randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress, following 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise. Forty-nine healthy, young female university students were randomly assigned into the 500 mg/day vitamin C supplement [n=25] and the placebo [n=24] groups for two weeks. Before supplementation and on the day after the intervention period, fasting blood samples were taken. Then all participants ran [5-6 km/h] for 30 minutes. A third set blood samples were taken at the end of exercise. Plasma malondialdehyde [MDA] and vitamin C were measured with the HPLC method. Plasma total glutathione was measured with the glutathione assay kit. No significant differences were observed in the demographics, vitamin C intakes before intervention between groups at baseline. Plasma MDA levels decreased and plasma total glutathione increased significantly in both groups. No significant differences were observed between groups after exercise. There were significant differences in plasma vitamin C concentrations after intervention and exercise between groups. Vitamin C supplementation [500 mg/day] for two weeks does not affect oxidative stress markers following moderate intensity exercise in healthy young women