Effect of vitamin C and E supplementation and elastic-band resistance training on muscle mass, strength, physical performance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in older women with sarcopenia: A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Description
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of 12 weeks of elastic-band resistance training (RT) with vitamin C and E supplementation on muscle mass, strength, physical performance, and blood parameters of oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation in older women with sarcopenia. Methods: Seventy participants (60 to 75 years) were randomized to an antioxidant supplementation group (AS; 1000 mg/d vitamin C and 335 mg/d vitamin E; n = 35) or a placebo group (PLA; n = 35) following the same RT program (three sessions per week). Muscle mass (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), strength (measured by handgrip strength and knee extension strength), physical performance (5-Repetition Chair Stand Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and 6-meter Gait Speed), OS-related indices (reduced [GSH] and oxidized [GSSG] glutathione, GSH/GSSG ratio, malondialdehyde [MDA], and protein carbonyl [PCO]), and pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) were evaluated at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Results: RT improved muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. The AS group had higher increases in arm lean mass (P = 0.003; d = 0.74), SMI (p = 0.004; d = 0.71), handgrip strength (P = 0.047; d = 0.51), and knee extension strength (P < 0.001; d = 0.89) than the PLA group but showed no additional improvement in all physical performance tests. In terms of blood parameters, the PLA group had increased serum levels of GSSG, MDA, and PCO and decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. By contrast, the AS group had increased GSH (P < 0.001; d = 1.52) and GSH/GSSG ratio (P < 0.001; d = 1.52) and reduced GSSG (P < 0.001; d = 0.96) and MDA (P < 0.001; d = 1.65). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α significantly decreased in the PLA and AS groups, and serum IL-6 level was lower in the AS group than in the PLA group (P < 0.001; d = 1.16). Conclusions: Vitamin C and E supplementation combined with RT may enhance neuromuscular adaptations (i.e., muscle mass and strength) in older women with sarcopenia by improving OS and inflammation levels post-training.