Adaptation to resistance and endurance training with antioxidant supplementation

Supplements (pills) are administrated orally. All participants take 4 x 250 mg vitamin C and 58,5 mg vitamin E daily for 10-12 weeks. The participants get supplements for 2 weeks at the time, and the participants are to return the empty pill bottles when getting new supplies. The participants confirm consumption of supplements in a diary regularly controlled by the investigators. The study comprises 3 experiments with similar vitamin/placebo supplementation: Young participants (18-45 yrs.) train either endurance or strength training; two different experiments. Volunteers are recruited separately to each experiment. The participants are in each experiment allocated, randomly to the receive C and E vitamin or placebo supplements. The endurance training combined with C and E vitamin/placebo supplementation intervention lasted for 11 weeks. The strength training combined with C and E vitamin/placebo supplementation intervention lasted for 10 weeks. The third experiment is conducted with elderly volunteers (>60 yrs.), and they trained strength and consumed with C and E vitamin/placebo supplementation for 12 weeks. Supplements (pills) are administrated orally. The participants get supplements for 2 weeks at the time, and the participants are to return the empty pill bottles when getting new supplies. The participants confirm consumption of supplements in a diary regularly controlled by the investigators. The training programs: The endurance training program (only young participants): 3-4 sessions per week (primarily running), divided into high intensity interval sessions (4-6x4-6 minutes; >90% of maximal heart rate (HRmax)) and steady state continuous sessions (30-60 minutes; 70-90% of HRmax). The participants have the opportunity to be supervised (by an exercise physiologist) during training, but can also train unsupervised. Supervised training is organized as small groups (3-5 participants). Introduction sessions in use of heart rate monitor (Polar RS400/800CX) and a scale of perceived exertion (Borgs scale) are given to all participants, so that the training intensity can be controlled. The strength training program#1: Young participants follow a traditional strength training program with four sessions per week. During the first six weeks the loads are 3 x 9-11 RM, whereas in the four lasts weeks the loads are 3-4 x 6-8 RM. The inter-set rest periods are 1-1.5 min. Exercises for all the major muscle groups are included in a split routine: two upper body and two lower body sessions per week. The exercise sessions last for 40-70 min. The young, strength training experienced participants, have the opportunity to be supervised during training (experienced strength coaches), but can also train unsupervised. Introduction sessions in order to learn the exercises are conducted before the intervention. The strength training program#2: Elderly participants follow a 3 full-body sessions per week, emphasizing free weight exercises where all the major muscle groups are included. Two of the sessions each week are “moderate” (8-10 rep, with 1 min rest between sets), and one varied between “heavy” (3-5 rep, with 2 min rest between sets) and “light” (13-15 rep, with 45 seconds rest between sets)” every second week. The exercise sessions last for 30-60 min. The elderly participants are supervised during all sessions by experienced strength coaches.