Antioxidants: role of supplementation to prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Exercise of a sufficient intensity and duration has been shown to increase indicators of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been indicated in skeletal muscle, liver, blood, and in expired air samples as indicated by the by-products of lipid peroxidation. Antioxidants are known to reduce oxidative-radical-induced reactions. This paper presents information concerning the effects of exercise on vitamin E and C concentrations in several tissues. This paper also discusses the effects of supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C on their ability to alter exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. This paper indicates that limited information is available concerning the effects of both vitamins on exercise-induced oxidative stress. The viability of antioxidants alone and in conjunction with each other in preventing exercise-induced lipid peroxidation requires further investigation.