ORIGINAL ARTICLES  BODY COMPOSITION, NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2012 February;52(1):63-70

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Vitamin E supplementation does not alter physiological performance at fixed blood lactate concentrations in trained runners

Cobley J. N., Marrin K. ✉

Sport and Exercise Research Group, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK

AIM:The aim of the study was to determine the direction of change in performance variables at fixed blood lactate concentrations following vitamin E (VE) supplementation.
METHODS:In a paired-matched design twelve (male: N.=8; female: N.=4) trained runners were allocated to a VE (N.=6; 268 mg·d-1) or placebo (N.=6; glucose: 30 mg·d-1) group for 35 days. Participants completed a discontinuous incremental exercise test, pre and post supplementation, to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) running velocity and percentage of peak oxygen uptake (%(VO2peak) at the lactate threshold (TLAC) and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). Participants maintained a standardised training regime throughout the supplementation period.
RESULTS: VE supplementation failed to significantly enhance velocity at TLAC (P=0.91) and OBLA (P=0.22) compared to a placebo treatment. Analogously, VE did not significantly enhance %(VO2peak) at TLAC (P=0.85) and OBLA (P=0.71) compared to a placebo treatment. Whilst VE supplementation did not enhance performance it did not impair performance compared to a placebo. Training significantly enhanced velocity at TLAC (P=0.00) and OBLA (P=0.05). No training-induced improvements in %VO2peak at TLAC (P=0.06) and OBLA (P=0.40) were observed.
CONCLUSION: Daily VE supplementation for 35 days does not enhance or impair physiological performance at fixed blood lactate concentrations. Long-term VE supplementation for the purposes of performance enhancement is not recommended.