Abstract
BACKGROUND: Resistance training (RT) is a fundamental sarcopenia treatment, but its efficacy may be enhanced by nutritional strategies. This study investigated whether combining RT with vitamins C and E supplementation yields additive benefits in sarcopenia patients. METHODS: Sixty older women with sarcopenia (60-75 years) were randomized to an antioxidant supplementation group (AS; 1000 mg/d vitamin C and 335 mg/d vitamin E) or a placebo group (PLA) following the same elastic-band RT program. Muscle mass, muscle strength, physical performance, oxidative stress-related indices (reduced glutathione [GSH] and oxidized glutathione [GSSG], GSH/GSSG ratio, malondialdehyde, and protein carbonyl), and pro-inflammatory factors (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were evaluated at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, muscle mass, strength, and physical performance significantly increased (P < .05) in both the AS and PLA groups. However, the AS group had higher increases in arm lean mass (Δ = 0.96 vs 0.59 kg; P = .003, d = 0.74), skeletal muscle mass index (Δ = 0.71 vs 0.42 kg/m²; P = .004, d = 0.71), handgrip strength (Δ = 3.66 vs 1.16 kg; P = .047, d = 0.51), and knee extension strength (Δ = 2.28 vs 1.02 kg; P < .001, d = 0.89) than the PLA group. There were no differences in physical performance between the RT conditions over time. Regarding blood parameters, the AS group had increased GSH (P < .001, d = 1.52) and GSH/GSSG ratio (P < .001, d = 1.52), and reduced GSSG (P < .001, d = 0.96) and malondialdehyde (P < .001, d = 1.65) compared to the PLA group. The serum levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha significantly decreased in the PLA and AS groups, but IL-6 was lower in the AS group than in the PLA group (P < .001, d = 1.16). CONCLUSION: Vitamins C and E supplementation combined with RT for 12 weeks resulted in superior adaptations in muscle mass and strength compared with RT with placebo, and the underlying mechanism could be related to the alleviation of oxidative stress and inflammation.