Antioxidant supplementation during exercise training: Beneficial or detrimental?

Peternelj, Tina-Tinkara and Coombes, Jeff S. (2011) Antioxidant supplementation during exercise training: Beneficial or detrimental?. Sports Medicine, 41 12: 1043-1069.


Author Peternelj, Tina-Tinkara
Coombes, Jeff S.
Title Antioxidant supplementation during exercise training: Beneficial or detrimental?
Journal name Sports Medicine  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2011-12-01
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.2165/11594400-000000000-00000
Volume number 41
Issue number 12
ISSN 0112-1642; 1179-2035
Start page 1043
End page 1069
Total pages 27
Place of publication Auckland, New Zealand
Publisher Adis International
Collection year 2012
Language eng
Abstract High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in skeletal muscle during exercise have been associated with muscle damage and impaired muscle function. Supporting endogenous defence systems with additional oral doses of antioxidants has received much attention as a noninvasive strategy to prevent or reduce oxidative stress, decrease muscle damage and improve exercise performance. Over 150 articles have been published on this topic, with almost all of these being small-scale, low-quality studies. The consistent finding is that antioxidant supplementation attenuates exercise-induced oxidative stress. However, any physiological implications of this have yet to be consistently demonstrated, with most studies reporting no effects on exercise-induced muscle damage and performance. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates detrimental effects of antioxidant supplementation on the health and performance benefits of exercise training. Indeed, although ROS are associated with harmful biological events, they are also essential to the development and optimal function of every cell. The aim of this review is to present and discuss 23 studies that have shown that antioxidant supplementation interferes with exercise training-induced adaptations. The main findings of these studies are that, in certain situations, loading the cell with high doses of antioxidants leads to a blunting of the positive effects of exercise training and interferes with important ROS-mediated physiological processes, such as vasodilation and insulin signalling. More research is needed to produce evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of antioxidant supplementation during exercise training. We recommend that an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals through a varied and balanced diet remains the best approach to maintain the optimal antioxidant status in exercising individuals.
Keyword Antioxidants
Therapeutic use
Exercise
Sports-medicine
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2012 Collection
School of Human Movement Studies Publications
 
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Created: Sun, 11 Dec 2011, 13:53:06 EST by Deborah Noon on behalf of School of Human Movement Studies