| Though this is not a breaking
study I feel it needs highlighting because it shows the importance of
Vitamin E supplementation in preventing cellular damage induced by
exercise.
In a study from Abteilung Medizinische Genetik, Universitat Ulm,
Germany, researchers used a single cell gel test to study DNA damage
in peripheral white blood cells (WBC) of humans after a single bout of
exhaustive exercise and the effect of vitamin supplementation on this
damage.
Subjects were asked to run on a treadmill until exhaustion and blood
samples were taken before and 24 hours after the run. A clear increase in
DNA strand breakage was observed in the 24 hour sample of all probands. A
short-term application of multivitamin pills or vitamin E (3 x 800 mg)
resulted in a significantly smaller increase of DNA effects in WBC of some
probands. When the volunteers were given a supplement of vitamin E (1200
mg daily) for 14 days prior to a run, exercise-induced DNA damage was
clearly reduced in all probands. In four out of five subjects, vitamin
supplementation completely prevented the induction of DNA damage after
exhaustive exercise.
This study revealed that supplementation of vitamin E for 14 days led
to a clear increase in vitamin E serum concentrations. Malondialdehyde (MDA),
a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured in the serum of probands in
tests with and without vitamin supplementation for 14 days. MDA
concentrations were significantly decreased following vitamin E
supplementation.
The results demonstrate that vitamin E prevents exercise-induced DNA
damage and indicate that DNA breakage occurs in WBC after exhaustive
exercise as a consequence of oxidative stress.
This is just one study showing the revenging effects oxidative stress
from exercise causes can be nullified with vitamin E supplementation. I
highly recommend taking 800 to 1600 IU's of vitamin E each day.
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