Effect of vitamin C on delayed onset muscle soreness indexes

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) refers to the skeletal muscle pain that is experienced following eccentric exercise. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of vitamin C on DOMS after an eccentric exercise.

Twenty healthy male age 21 to 24 years participated as subjects in this study. The subjects were assigned to either an experimental (3500 mg of vitamin C; n=10) or a placebo group (Same dosage of juice powder; n=10) using a double-blind research design. Knee range of motion (ROM), perceived pain and serum activity of the enzyme creatine kinase (CK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C reactive protein (CRP) were taken before, immediately and 48 hours after the eccentric exercise.

Lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, CRP and pain increased (P<0.05) and knee ROM decreased (P<0.05) in the both groups immediately after the eccentric exercise. The vitamin C supplementation decreased the pain and CRP levels compare to the placebo group at 48 hours after the eccentric exercise (P<0.05) but it has not effective to improve LDH, CK and knee ROM.

In conclusion, further studies are needed to examine the effects of vitamin C supplementation on DOMS induced by eccentric exercise.