Vitamin E may reduce muscle soreness

[Guest guest]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/06/04/vitamin.e/index.html

.... The vitamin acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radicals

generated during a workout. The chemical buildup may cause soreness in the

muscles.

There are two basic types of muscle soreness -- one is acute and usually

happens during or immediately after exercise. The other is delayed and

occurs about 12 hours after a workout.

Acute soreness may be an expression of simple fatigue, probably the result

of a buildup of chemical byproducts from exercise. Usually rest will help

alleviate the initial discomfort.

But for those folks who wait until the weekend to work out rigorously, they

may experience what's called delayed soreness. It's a normal response to

overexertion and part of a process that leads to greater strength once the

muscles recover.

In the study cited previously, vitamin E was shown to help reduce symptoms

of muscle soreness, inflammation and muscle weakness. Participants used

doses of 1,000 IU daily, but lower doses of about 200 to 400 IU may give

exercisers the same benefits.

The researchers said that the physically fit may not need vitamin E after

exercise. But most participants who took vitamin E reported lesser symptoms

of muscle soreness and inflammation, researchers found.

The vitamin might be helpful for the " weekend warrior " types who don't

always exercise on a regular basis.

Further studies need to be done on muscle soreness and vitamin E in women.

The benefits on sore muscles are hard to predict in women, the study's

author said....