Electron spin resonance spectroscopy, exercise, and oxidative stress: an ascorbic acid intervention study

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 87; no. 6; pp. 2032 - 2036
• Main Authors: Ashton, Tony, Young, Ian S, Peters, John R, Jones, Eleri, Jackson, Simon K, Davies, Bruce, Rowlands, Christopher C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.12.1999; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell metabolism, cell oxidation; Cell physiology; Cyclic N-Oxides; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism; Free radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lipid Peroxides - metabolism; Male; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Molecular and cellular biology; Nitrogen Oxides - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Oxygen; Scientific imaging; Vitamin C; Maximal physical exercise; Human; Oxidative stress; Ascorbic acid; Vitamin; EPR spectrometry; Lipids; Supplementation; Free radical; Peroxidation
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.87.6.2032

1  School of Applied Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales, CF37 1DL; 2  Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Science, Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT12 6BL; 3  Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, CF4 4XW; 4  University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales, CF3 7XR; 5  Department of Medical Microbiology, Section of Immunology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales, CF4 4XN; and 6  Department of Chemistry, National EPSRC ENDOR Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF1 3TB, United Kingdom Oxygen free radicals are highly reactive species that are produced in increased quantities during strenuous exercise and can damage critical biological targets such as membrane phospholipids. The present study examined the effect of acute ascorbic acid supplementation on exercise-induced free radical production in healthy subjects. Results demonstrate increases in the intensity of the -phenyl- tert -butylnitrone adduct (0.05 ± 0.02 preexercise vs. 0.19 ± 0.03 postexercise, P  = 0.002, arbitrary units) together with increased lipid hydroperoxides (1.14 ± 0.06 µmol/l preexercise vs. 1.62 ± 0.19 µmol/l postexercise, P  = 0.005) and malondialdehyde (0.70 ± 0.04 µmol/l preexercise vs. 0.80 ± 0.04 µmol/l postexercise, P  = 0.0152) in the control phase. After supplementation with ascorbic acid, there was no significant increase in the electron spin resonance signal intensity (0.02 ± 0.01 preexercise vs. 0.04 ± 0.02 postexercise, arbitrary units), lipid hydroperoxides (1.12 ± 0.21 µmol/l preexercise vs. 1.12 ± 0.08 µmol/l postexercise), or malondialdehyde (0.63 ± 0.07   µmol/l preexercise vs. 0.68 ± 0.05 µmol/l postexercise). The results indicate that acute ascorbic acid supplementation prevented exercise-induced oxidative stress in these subjects. lipid peroxidation; vitamin C; free radicals; superoxide