Edith Hayden recently received an A.J. Palumbo Student Research Grant for her work on “The Influence of Antioxidant Exposure in vivo and in vitro on the Biochemical Markers of Free Radical Damage.”  This is what Ms. Hayden had to say about her research.
 
“Exercise causes damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA by increasing the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells.  Vitamin E and vitamin C are two antioxidants that have been hypothesized to reduce the oxidative damage caused by ROS.  Antioxidants were supplemented in two ways: in the mouse diet and during contractile testing (in vitro).  This study compared the protective effects of antioxidants by measuring lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl formation, and the in vitro contractile characteristics of the Soleus and Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscles of mice.  This study found that dietary supplementation of vitamin E and vitamin C may lower the level of lipid peroxidation in mice.  In the slow-twitch soleus muscle, both dietary and in vitro antioxidant supplementation reduced fatigue.  In the fast-twitch EDL muscle, dietary antioxidant supplementation reduced fatigue while in vitro antioxidant supplementation increased fatigue.  This data suggests antioxidants have different effects on different muscle fiber types.  The lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl data suggest that the time between mouse acquisition and sacrifice effect oxidation levels.  In conclusion, vitamin E and vitamin C appear to have some protective effects on muscles and lipids.”