High doses of vitamins C and E, through their antioxidant properties, can interfere with skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise by reducing the natural oxidative stress that triggers these beneficial adaptations.
Daily supplementation with high doses of the antioxidant vitamins C and E can depress exercise-induced training adaptations in skeletal muscles.
Vitamins C and E act as antioxidants which are crucial in combating oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals. In the context of exercise, these free radicals are produced in greater quantities. Normally, the body adapts to this increased oxidative stress by enhancing its own antioxidant defense system, which is part of the training adaptation. However, supplementing with high doses of antioxidants like vitamins C and E may interfere with these natural adaptations. They may reduce the oxidative stress too effectively, diminishing the body's signal to adapt and thus blunting the beneficial effects of exercise on muscle conditioning and endurance. Additionally, while antioxidants are important for overall health and help in preventing cellular damage, relying solely on supplementation can disrupt natural physiological responses and adaptations to exercise.
It's important to balance antioxidant intake with the body's natural response to exercise. Over-supplementation might hinder the adaptive processes that contribute to conditioning and strength gains from regular training.