Go easy on the supplements to benefit from exercise

摘要

Popping too many vitamin pills might block at least one of the beneficial effects of exercise.rnExercise is known to increase insulin sensitivity and so reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, it also raises levels of free radicals, highly reactive molecules produced by the body that are thought to contribute to ageing and other ill effects.rnMichael Ristow at the University of Jena in Germany and colleagues wanted to find out whether the free radicals and increased insulin sensitivity are linked. They asked 40 people to exercise for 85 minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks, and gave half of them 1000 milligrams of vitamin C and 400IU of vitamin E per day. These vitamins are antioxidants, which are thought to mop up free radicals, and the doses are similar to what you get from some vitamin supplements.