Effects of different antioxidants on exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage are key factors affecting athletes’ performance and recovery. This meta-analysis aims to assess the effects of different antioxidants on post-exercise muscle damage and oxidative stress in athletes, providing evidence-based support for the development of effective exercise nutrition strategies. This meta-analysis strictly followed the PRISMA guidelines. It systematically retrieved the Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of antioxidants on post-exercise muscle damage and oxidative stress in athletes. Primary outcomes encompassed total antioxidant status (TAS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and lactate (LA). Secondary outcomes were interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), creatine kinase (CK), and nitrates (NOx). Effect sizes were combined via standardized mean difference (SMD). Heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses were performed, as well as publication bias evaluations. Twenty-six RCTs involving 505 athletes were incorporated. The overall analysis indicated that antioxidant supplementation significantly decreased post-exercise LA (SMD: -1.25; 95% CI: -2.06, -0.43; I²=81.7%, p < 0.001) and CK (SMD: -1.88; 95% CI: -2.98, -0.78; I²=86.2%, p < 0.001) levels in athletes. However, the overall effects for TAS, TBARS, SOD,…
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