Marginal vitamin C status is associated with reduced fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in young adults

Autor: Corte Corinne; Johnston Carol S; Swan Pamela D
Sprache: Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2006
Quelle: Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles
Online Zugang: http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/3/1/35
https://doaj.org/toc/1743-7075
doi:10.1186/1743-7075-3-35
1743-7075
https://doaj.org/article/fefa0cf8c1e145a8b2facecb66679e15
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-3-35
https://doaj.org/article/fefa0cf8c1e145a8b2facecb66679e15
Erfassungsnummer: ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:fefa0cf8c1e145a8b2facecb66679e15

Zusammenfassung

Abstract Background Vitamin C is a cofactor in the biosynthesis of carnitine, a molecule required for the oxidation of fatty acids. A reduction in the ability to oxidize fat may contribute to the reported inverse relationship between vitamin C status and adiposity. To examine this possibility, we conducted a preliminary trial to evaluate the impact of vitamin C status on fat oxidation during submaximal exercise. Methods Fat energy expenditure was determined in individuals with marginal (n = 15) or adequate (n = 7) vitamin C status during a submaximal, 60-minute treadmill test. Subsequently, eight of the subjects with marginal vitamin C status completed an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, depletion-repletion trial with submaximal exercise testing. Results Individuals with marginal vitamin C status oxidized 25% less fat per kg body weight during the treadmill test as compared to individuals with adequate vitamin C status. Fat oxidation during exercise was inversely related to fatigue (r = -0.611, p = 0.009). Vitamin C repletion of vitamin C depleted subjects (500 mg vitamin C/d) raised fat energy expenditure during exercise 4-fold as compared to depleted control subjects (p = 0.011). Conclusion These preliminary results show that low vitamin C status is associated with reduced fat oxidation during submaximal exercise. Low vitamin C status may partially explain the inverse relationship between vitamin C status and adiposity and why some individuals are unsuccessful in their weight loss attempts.