Positive Health Online

Abstract

YFANTI and COLLEAGUES, Rigshospitalet, Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, 7641, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. christinayfanti@inflammation-metabolism.dk assessed the effect of antioxidant supplementation during endurance training on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in young healthy men.

Background

While production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is associated with some of the beneficial adaptations to regular physical exercise, it is not established whether RONS play a role in the improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle obtained by endurance training.

Methodology

To assess the effect of antioxidant supplementation during endurance training on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, 21 young healthy (age 29 +/- 1 y, BMI 25 +/- 3 kg/m(2)) men were randomly assigned to either an antioxidant [AO; 500 mg vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) daily] or a placebo (PL) group that both underwent a supervised intense endurance-training program 5 times/wk for 12 wk. A 3-h euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, a maximal oxygen consumption (Vo(2max)) and maximal power output (P(max)) test, and body composition measurements (fat mass, fat-free mass) were performed before and after the training. Muscle biopsies were obtained for determination of the concentration and activity of proteins regulating glucose metabolism.

Results

Although plasma levels of vitamin C (P < 0.05) and alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.05) increased markedly in the AO group, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake increased similarly in both the AO (17.2%, P < 0.05) and the PL (18.9%, P < 0.05) group in response to training. Vo(2max) and P(max) also increased similarly in both groups (time effect, P < 0.0001 for both) as well as protein content of GLUT4, hexokinase II, and total Akt (time effect, P <= 0.05 for all).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that administration of antioxidants during strenuous endurance training has no effect on the training-induced increase in insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals.

References

Yfanti C, Nielsen AR, Akerstrom T, Nielsen S, Rose AJ, Richter EA, Lykkesfeldt J, Fischer CP and Pedersen BK. Effect of antioxidant supplementation on insulin sensitivity in response to endurance exercise training. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology & Metabolism. 300(5):E761-70. May 2011.