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- Title
Antioxidant Diet Supplementation Influences Blood Iron Status in Endurance Athletes.
- Authors
Aguiló, Antoni; Fuentespina, Emilia; Tauler, Pere; Tur, Josep A.; Pons, Antoni; Villa, Gerardo; Córdova, Alfredo
- Abstract
The aim of this work was to check the effects of antioxidant supplementation (vitamins E and C, and β-carotene) on the basal iron status of athletes prior to and following their training and competition season (3 months). Design: Eighteen amateur trained male athletes were randomly distributed in 2 groups: placebo (lactose) and antioxidant supplemented (vitamin E, 500 mg/d; vitamin C, 1 g/d; and β-carotene, 30 mg/d). The study was double blind. Hematological parameters, dietary intake, physical activity intensity, antioxidant status (GSH/GSSG ratio), and basal iron status (serum iron, transferrin, ferritin, and iron saturation index) were determined before and after the intervention trials. Results: Exercise decreased antioxidant defenses in the placebo group but not in the antioxidant-supplemented group. No changes were found in the number of erythrocytes, hematocrit, or hemoglobin concentration, or in values of serum iron parameters, after taking the antioxidant cocktail for 3 months, in spite of the exercise completed. The placebo group showed a high oxidative stress index, and decreases in serum iron (24%) and iron saturation index (28%), which can neither be attributed to aspects of the athletes' usual diet, nor to hemoconcentration. Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation prevents the decrease of serum iron and the iron saturation index, and a link between iron metabolism and oxidative stress may also be suggested.
- Subjects
ANTIOXIDANTS; ATHLETES; PHYSICAL fitness; IRON in the body; VITAMIN E; VITAMIN C; BIOCHEMISTRY; NUTRITION
- Publication
International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 2004, Vol 14, Issue 2, p147
- ISSN
1526-484X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1123/ijsnem.14.2.147