The effect of vitamin C application on liver enzymes and plasma lipid levels in footballers and basketball players

• Main Authors: Ayfer Aktaş, Yıldız Atamer, M. Cüneyt Aksak, Yüksel Koçyiğit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Modestum Publishing LTD 2011-03-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations
• Subjects: Vitamin C; football; basketball; plasma lipids.
• Online Access: http://jceionline.org/upload/sayi/4/JCEI-00577.pdf

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectsof vitamin C supplementation on the liver enzymes andplasma lipids in footballers and basketball players followingthree weeks of training and vitamin C supplementation.Materials and methods: A total of 20 volunteer malesportsmen were included. Blood levels of urea, creatinine,aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), total cholesterol (T.Col), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low densitylipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride before exercise (BE),were measured and the groups were undertaken a 10-minute exercise. After exercise (AE), their values were measuredagain and they given 1 g/day vitamin C. Three weekslater their BE and AE parameters were measured.Results: In footballers, after the vitamin C supplementationelevated AST, ALT, ALP and LDH in AE were found comparedwith BE (P<0.001), while blood urea dropped (P<0.05). Inbasketball players, the AE values of the AST, ALT and ALPbefore and after the supplementation of vitamin C werehigher compared to those of BE (P<0.001). After the vitaminC administration, higher urea (P<0.05) and lower LDL(P<0.001) levels of BE and AE were found. In basketballplayers levels of blood urea and AST were found to be elevatedcompared to footballers both before and after exercise(P<0.001) while LDH dropped (P<0.05) following vitaminC and HDL-C levels were higher in all sportsmen comparedwith BE. In basketball players LDL-C and triglyceridelevels decreased with vitamin C (p<0.01).Conclusion: Vitamin C supplementation increased HDLClevels both in footballers and basketball players. Inbasketball players, LDL-C, triglyceride and LDH levels decreasedby vitamin C administration. J Clin Exp Invest2011; 2(1):62-68