Are Antioxidants Anti-Exercise Gains? by Jerry Brainum 4/23

 

Antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamins C and E, are among the most popular supplements sold today. Of course, these same nutrients are available in natural foods. Fruits are among the best natural sources of vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid. The need for vitamin C first become apparent when British sailors in the 18th century were afflicted with a mysterious disease that proved debilitating. This disease most commonly occurred on longer voyages, when the sailors had to depend on food sources on hand in the ships. The disease that sickened the sailors was called "scurvy," and was marked by extreme fatigue, bleeding gums, poor wound healing, and soreness in the arms and legs. Most of these symptoms arise because vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, the primary connective tissue in the body. While it takes 3 months of no vitamin C intake for these symptoms to arise, once they do, it gets much worse with time. Eventually, death can ensue from excessive bleeding or infections. An average of 50% of sailors were expected to die on long voyages because of scurvy. During the 18th century, scurvy killed more sailors than any war, with 2 million dying between 1500 and 1800. It seemed hopeless for the sailors until one physician in 1753 suggested that limes, which are a source of vitamin C, be supplied to sailors. Once that happened, cases of scurvy among the seamen dropped to nearly nothing. The doctor who suggested the limes, James Lind, didn't know what was in the limes that cured scurvy, only that it worked. Despite the efficacy of limes in preventing scurvy, British sailors weren't supplied with lemon juice (another source of C) until 1795. Vitamin C itself wasn't isolated or discovered until 1928.

The muscle pain that often accompanies other symptoms of scurvy occurs because C is required for the synthesis of carnitine, another nutrient that is needed to oxidize fat in the body. What this means in a practical sense is that if you are deficient in vitamin C, you will also be deficient in carnitine and won't be able to process fat. What's interesting about vitamin C is that humans, certain types of bats, and guinea pigs are the only animals that cannot synthesize vitamin C in their bodies. This is due to a lack of an enzyme that can convert glucose, the primary sugar in the blood, into vitamin C.

The popularity of vitamin C peaked after Linus Pauling, a noted chemist and 2-time Nobel Prize winner, wrote a book in 1970 in which he extolled the many health benefits of C. Among other claims made by Pauling was that C could help to prevent cardiovascular disease and also help to prevent and cure the common cold. Since Pauling was a respected scientist, his writings about C caused the sale of C to skyrocket. Even people who never used any . . .