No evidence to support antioxidants for a noticeable reduction in post-exercise muscle soreness

Wednesday 4 July 2018

Brian McAvoy

PEARLS No.

589

Clinical question

How effective are antioxidant supplements and antioxidant-enriched foods for preventing and reducing the severity and duration of delayed onset muscle soreness following exercise?

Bottom line

There was moderate to low-quality evidence that antioxidant supplementation did not result in a clinically relevant reduction of muscle soreness after exercise at any of the 5 follow-up times: up to 6 hours and at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after exercise. There was no evidence available on subjective recovery and only limited evidence on the adverse effects of taking antioxidant supplements. Some antioxidant supplements such as N-acetylcysteine might cause unwanted side effects including gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhoea.

Caveat

A large variation in the dose and duration of the antioxidants used was apparent. No older participants were included in this review – age range of participants was 16 to 55.

Context

Muscle soreness typically occurs after intense or unaccustomed exercise. It peaks between 24 and 72 hours after the initial bout of exercise. Many people take antioxidant supplements such as vitamin C and/or E or antioxidant-enriched foods such as tart cherry or pomegranate juice before and after exercise in the belief these will prevent or reduce muscle soreness after exercise.

Cochrane Systematic Review

Ranchordas M et al. Antioxidants for preventing and reducing muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Reviews, 2017, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD009789.DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD009789.pub2. This review contains 50 studies involving 1089 participants.

Cochrane Systematic Reviews for primary care practitioners – developed by the Cochrane Primary Care Field, New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre at the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland and funded by the Ministry of Health. Brian McAvoy is an honorary/adjunct professor of general practice at the Universities of Auckland, Melbourne, Monash and Queensland. New Zealanders can access the Cochrane Library free via nz.cochrane.org

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