Alexander Kormanovski

Increased antioxidant capacity in healthy volunteers taking a mixture of oral antioxidants versus vitamin C or E supplementation.

The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the capacity of human plasma that had been obtained from healthy adult volunteers before and after they ingested vitamin E or C to inhibit induced lipoperoxidation in vitro (antioxidant capacity of plasma [ACP]), and (2) to compare the efficiency of these vitamins with that of a commercial mixture of antioxidant vitamins, cofactors, and minerals (MAOx). Seventy-nine healthy individuals between 19 and 23 y of age were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups. Each received a daily dose of antioxidants for 7 d: vitamin C (n=18; 500 mg), vitamin E (n=21; 400 IU), vitamins C and E (n=19), or MAOx (n=21; 1.2 g). ACP and plasma malondialdehyde were measured at 4 and 24 h and 7 d. ACP increased significantly (P<.05) in all 4 groups within 4 h of antioxidant intake, and this effect was sustained throughout supplementation. Plasma ACP increased significantly over basal values in the group taking MAOx; relative increases were 42%, 44%, and 55% at 4 h, 24 h, and 7 d, respectively (P<.001). Smaller increases in plasma ACP were observed in the vitamin C group (25%, 32%, and 36%) and, specifically, in the vitamin E group (17%, 24%, and 28%) (P<.05). The mixture of vitamins and minerals was comparatively more efficient than vitamin C or E alone, presumably because MAOx contains various antioxidant compounds with different redox potentials, leading to the possible development of chain reactions.

Metabolic, haematological and antibody response during 24 hours of continuous sit-ups: case report

Background There is little information about the metabolic response during cyclical exercise requiring great strength and of extreme duration, that which represents the limit of human capacity. Material & Methods: A weight lifter trained for and carried out a 24-hour session of continuous sit-ups with abtoner in the form of an arc. The diet during the event was carefully designed and given to the athlete every hour. The metabolic, haematological and antibody response was measured in the capillary blood samples taken every four hours during the exercise. Results: A minimum level of glucose was observed at the midpoint of exercise, followed by a return to the basal level. During the second half of the exercise session, there was a steady and elevated level of urea. Plasmatic markers of muscular damage (CK and LDH) increased steadily during the first half of the exercise session, and remained at their maximum level (2800 U/l and 700 U/l, respectively) during the second half. Granulocytes reached their maximum level at the midpoint of exercise and diminished afterwards, whereas agranulocytes increased gradually until the end of the exercise session. IgA and IgG showed their lowest level at hour 4, and again at the end of the exercise. There was a high positive correlation between markers of muscular damage (urea, uric acid, inorganic phosphorous, and agranulocytes) during exercise. Conclusions: 1. low carbohydrate consumption did not significantly limit performance of athlete; 2. the permeability of the membrane is the dominant factor for the CK response during.