Vitamins vs exercise

So many people still think that vitamin C helps against colds; others pop vitamin E supplements, putting their faith in antioxidants -- even as that particular credo is crumbling:

About forty healthy young male volunteers took part in the study, which involved four weeks of identical exercise programs. Half of the volunteers were already in athletic training, and half weren't. Both groups were then split again, and half of each cohort took 1000 mg/day of vitamin C and 400 IU/day vitamin E, while the other half took no antioxidants at all. So, we have the effects of exercise, plus and minus previous training, and plus and minus antioxidants.

And as it turns out, antioxidant supplements appear to cancel out many of the beneficial effects of exercise. Soaking up those transient bursts of reactive oxygen species keeps them from signaling.

Further discussion at FuturePundit as well. I stopped taking multivitamins years ago, and I get plenty of vitamin C and E from a good diet. The only supplements I now use are calcium and vitamin D.

ADDENDUM: Another study showing widespread Vitamin D deficiency here.

Posted by David on May 14, 2009 8:54 PM