Antioxidant Vitamins as Oxidative Stress Markers in Rat Plasma After Physical Exercise - a Short Report

Abstract

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that β-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C administered individually or in combination may differently modify their levels in blood plasma being also markers of the oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were supplemented antioxidants per os (α-to-copherol - 2 mg/d, ascorbic acid - 12 mg/d, β-carotene - 1 mg/d), both individually or in combination of 2 or 3, for 14 days. During experiment, half of the animals in each group (n=8) were subjected to treadmill exercise for 15 min at the speed of 20 m/min, to induce oxidative stress. Vitamins in rat plasma were assessed by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results suggest that vitamin E and C supplemented simultaneously may provide some benefit during physical exercise. The significant influence of administered α-tocopherol acetate and physical exercise on the level of α-tocopherol in the plasma was observed. Thus only the concentration of α-tocopherol in blood may be treated as a marker of oxidative stress.

Keywords

• β-carotene
• retinol
• vitamin E
• vitamin C
• exercise
• rats