Facts about vitamin E and muscle damage
Scientists from Pennsylvania State University examined the effect
of vitamin E on 12 weight-trained men [1].
The men were assigned to one of two groups. Group one took 1200
IU of vitamin E daily. The placebo group used a dummy pill.
After two weeks of weight-training and supplementation, there was
a reduction in muscle damage in the group taking vitamin E. This,
in turn, may play a role in speeding up recovery.
Other studies, however, show different results. At least two other
studies show that 1200 IU of vitamin E daily has no effect on muscle
damage [2, 3].
References
1. McBride JM, Kraemer WJ, Triplett-McBride T, Sebastianelli W.
Effect of resistance exercise on free radical production. Med
Sci Sports Exerc. 1998 Jan;30(1):67-72
2. Effects of vitamin E supplementation on recovery from repeated
bouts of resistance exercise. Avery NG, Kaiser JL, Sharman MJ, Scheett
TP, Barnes DM, Gomez AL, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS. J
Strength Cond Res. 2003 Nov;17(4):801-9
3. Contraction-induced muscle damage is unaffected by vitamin E
supplementation. Beaton LJ, Allan DA, Tarnopolsky MA, Tiidus PM,
Phillips SM. Med
Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 May;34(5):798-805
|