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The effects of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant content in the brains of chronically exercised rats

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether vitamin C supplementation during chronic exercise training alters rat brain antioxidant content. Female Wistar albino rats were exercised on a treadmill for 30 min/day for 6.5 weeks and were administered daily intraperitoneal injections of vitamin C (20 mg/kg). After the training period, chronically exercised rats showed no significant changes in total brain thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels. In contrast, rats supplemented with vitamin C during the training period showed significantly elevated brain TBARS levels. If such results were extrapolated to man, where vitamin supplementation is a common practice, this would indicate that vitamin C supplementation may not protect brain tissue against exercise-induced oxidative damage, in such circumstances, this water-soluble antioxidant behaves as a pro-oxidant. (Mol Cell Biochem xxx: 135–138, 2005)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Art and Science Faculty, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Şule Coşkun & Barbaros Balabanlí

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Bilge Gönül

  3. Sport and Exercise Faculty, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Nevin Atalay Güzel

  4. Department of Biology, Science and Art Faculty, Gazi University, 06500, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Şule Coşkun

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  1. Şule Coşkun
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  2. Bilge Gönül
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  4. Barbaros Balabanlí
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Correspondence to Şule Coşkun.

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Coşkun, Ş., Gönül, B., Güzel, N.A. et al. The effects of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant content in the brains of chronically exercised rats. Mol Cell Biochem 280, 135–138 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-8421-y

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