Pre-workout antioxidants = beneficial for skeletal muscle

[NO HYPE]

According to this new abstract, reducing oxidative damage during exercise appears to be of particular value to skeletal muscle.


Antioxidant supplementation enhances the exercise-induced increase in mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA content in human skeletal muscle.

The effects of acute exercise on the mRNA content of selected genes were examined during control conditions and after oral intake of antioxidants. In addition, to provide evidence for formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human skeletal muscle during exercise, cytochrome c reduction was measured in microdialysate from the muscle. For the study on the effects of antioxidants on mRNA content, seven healthy, habitually active, male subjects participated in a double-blinded experimental design in which they, on one occasion, received a placebo and, on another, a mixture of antioxidants containing 1500 mg vitamin C, 120 mg coenzyme Q, and 345 mg alpha-tocopherol every day for 7 days before the experiment. On the experimental day the subjects cycled for 90 min and muscle biopsies were taken preexercise and at 1, 3, and 5 h after exercise. Exercise induced an increase in the eNOS, UCP3, PGC-1alpha, VEGF, Hsp72, and HO-1 mRNA content (p < 0.001), whereas there was no change in the Hsc70 mRNA level. Prior antioxidant treatment further enhanced (p < 0.05) the eNOS and UCP3 mRNA content after exercise. Moreover, the overall level of Hsc70 mRNA tended (p = 0.07) to be higher after antioxidant treatment. In another group of healthy male subjects, cytochrome c reduction was determined in microdialysate from the thigh muscle at rest and during knee extensor exercise to determine ROS formation. There was a significant increase in cytochrome c reduction with exercise both at 14 ( approximately 25%) and at 30 W ( approximately 50%). The data show that ROS are formed within skeletal muscle during exercise and that oral intake of antioxidants can enhance the exercise-induced adaptive mRNA responses of eNOS and UCP3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17602951&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[NO HYPE]

It's important to note that the proper antioxidant combinations, ideal dosages and/or timing of dosages, are reflective of the individual only. Each individual can have very different reactions, so I think it's important to start minimally, and gradually work up to different combinations/dosages.

[cr4zyguy]

Interesting read... How long before the experiment did they take the antioxidants?

[NO HYPE]

Interesting read... How long before the experiment did they take the antioxidants?

Unfortunately I only have access to the abstract, so I'm not sure.

[NO HYPE]

According to this new abstract, reducing oxidative damage during exercise appears to be of particular value to skeletal muscle.


Antioxidant supplementation enhances the exercise-induced increase in mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA content in human skeletal muscle.

The effects of acute exercise on the mRNA content of selected genes were examined during control conditions and after oral intake of antioxidants. In addition, to provide evidence for formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human skeletal muscle during exercise, cytochrome c reduction was measured in microdialysate from the muscle. For the study on the effects of antioxidants on mRNA content, seven healthy, habitually active, male subjects participated in a double-blinded experimental design in which they, on one occasion, received a placebo and, on another, a mixture of antioxidants containing 1500 mg vitamin C, 120 mg coenzyme Q, and 345 mg alpha-tocopherol every day for 7 days before the experiment. On the experimental day the subjects cycled for 90 min and muscle biopsies were taken preexercise and at 1, 3, and 5 h after exercise. Exercise induced an increase in the eNOS, UCP3, PGC-1alpha, VEGF, Hsp72, and HO-1 mRNA content (p < 0.001), whereas there was no change in the Hsc70 mRNA level. Prior antioxidant treatment further enhanced (p < 0.05) the eNOS and UCP3 mRNA content after exercise. Moreover, the overall level of Hsc70 mRNA tended (p = 0.07) to be higher after antioxidant treatment. In another group of healthy male subjects, cytochrome c reduction was determined in microdialysate from the thigh muscle at rest and during knee extensor exercise to determine ROS formation. There was a significant increase in cytochrome c reduction with exercise both at 14 ( approximately 25%) and at 30 W ( approximately 50%). The data show that ROS are formed within skeletal muscle during exercise and that oral intake of antioxidants can enhance the exercise-induced adaptive mRNA responses of eNOS and UCP3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17602951&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


Consider this link as well.... Free radicals.... BENEFICIAL? (http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=3738381)

[Dr.Dave1]

Interesting read... How long before the experiment did they take the antioxidants?
interesting study. Here is that portion of the methods.


Antioxidant/mRNA experiment
At least 8 days before the first experimental day, the subjects
conducted a standardized test for determination of submaximal
and maximal oxygen uptake on a cycle ergometer. The subjects
then participated in two week-long experiments separated by at
least 4 weeks. During one of the weeks (PLA), the subjects received placebo (vegetable oil capsules and fiber tablets) every
day including the morning of the experimental day, which was
on the eighth day. During the other week (AO), the subjects
received antioxidants (120 mg coenzyme Q10, 345 mg
α-tocopherol, 1500 mg Vit C) every day including the morning
of the experimental day (eighth day). On the experimental day,
the subjects came to the laboratory in the morning after a light
standardized breakfast and rested in the supine position. A
biopsy was obtained from the m. vastus lateralis and rapidly
frozen in liquid nitrogen and a blood sample was obtained from
the antecubital vein, for later analysis of antioxidant concentrations.
The subjects then cycled for 90 min on a cycle ergometer
at a workload corresponding to 70% of maximal oxygen uptake,
corresponding to a mean of 184 W (range 168?201 W). After
termination of exercise, muscle biopsies were obtained from the
thigh muscle at 1, 3, and 5 h of recovery. The study was of a
double-blinded randomized design. In the week before the first
experiment, the subjects were asked to keep a record of their
intake of food and to match this intake for the second
experimental week. Thus the subjects had a similar dietary
intake during the two experimental weeks. The subjects were
also asked to avoid a higher than normal intake of fruit and
vegetables.


I was particularly surprised to see a significant increase in HSP-72 post exercise with anti-oxidants vs placebo. I would be interested to see more info on what happens to protein synthesis markers. If we block inflammation via ROS (which can be pro-anabolic) do we limit our gains?

[GeneGnomeX]

Well if these people are under higher oxidative stress than what would be considered normal I think any antiox would help. Here is the ROS paper I talked about in the other thread: http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=5014

EDIT: so it seems to be deleted i'll have to find it again