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Antioxidants in wine may block the positive effects of exercise

Antioxidants in wine may block the positive effects of exercise

A recent Queens University study suggests that the antioxidant resveratrol, a component in red wine, may block some of the positive effects of exercise.

It is a controversial finding that has been contradicted by prior research in mice, but was reinforced by a Danish study this summer.

The small study, presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology last month, analyzed the health of 16 university-aged men before and after a four-week sprint-interval exercise program, reports the Globe and Mail.

Some of the men were given a 150 milligram dosage of resveratrol, and the others were not. The results showed that the resveratrol group saw lesser gains in anaerobic power and burned less fat during exercise. Both groups of men improved their oxygen uptake.

Senior researcher Dr. Brendon Gurd notes that the dosage of resveratrol given to participants was significantly higher than what's contained in a glass of red wine; typically about 2-3 milligrams.

Also see: Kitchen cures for autoimmune disease

A growing body of research suggests the high dosages in vitamin supplements may be doing more harm than good, and has many wondering if antioxidants such as vitamin A, C, E and resveratrol are only helpful to us in the smaller quantities found in food, rather than the high quantities in supplements.

The Globe notes that a Spanish study from 2008 found combining exercise with a high daily dosage of vitamin C led to smaller gains in aerobic fitness-boosting mitochondria than exercise alone.

Similarly, a German study in 2009 found that taking both vitamin C and E supplements daily blocked the benefits of insulin sensitivity that one would normally experience from exercise.

Also see: Skinny people at risk for diabetes, too

Just this month the United States government released a review of 26 prior studies, which found that most vitamin supplements (including antioxidants) do not reduce cancer or heart attack risk.

"In the absence of clear evidence about the impact of most vitamins and multivitamins on cardiovascular disease and cancer, health care professionals should counsel their patients to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in nutrients," the researchers write.

What are your thoughts on the antioxidant and vitamin supplement trend? Will this new research make you less inclined to use supplements?

For more on the study that found vitamins don't prevent heart disease or cancer check out the video below.