Vitamin E regulates changes in tissue antioxidants induced by fish oil and acute exercise

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2000-03, Vol.32 (3), p.601-607
• Main Authors: ATALAY, M, LAAKSONEN, D. E, KHANNA, S, KALISTE-KORHONEN, E, HÄNNINEN, O, SEN, C. K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Dietary Supplements; Drug Interactions; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fish Oils - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glutathione - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Oxidative Stress; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin E - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1097/00005768-200003000-00008

Prooxidant effects of fish oil supplementation could unfavorably affect the cardiovascular benefits of fish oil. We tested the effects of 8 wk vitamin E cosupplementation with fish oil on antioxidant defenses at rest and in response to exhaustive exercise in rats. Rats (N = 80) were divided into fish oil, fish oil and vitamin E (FOVE), soy oil, and soy oil and vitamin E (SOVE) supplemented groups. For the vitamin E supplemented rats, corresponding groups (FOVE-Ex and SOVE-Ex) performed an acute bout of exhaustive exercise after the supplementation period. Fish oil supplementation increased the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase in the liver and red gastrocnemius (RG) muscle. Fish oil decreased liver total glutathione (TGSH) levels. Vitamin E supplementation decreased antioxidant enzyme activities to levels at or near those in SOVE in a tissue specific pattern. Vitamin E increased TGSH in liver, heart, and RG. Regression analysis showed TGSH to be a negative determinant of protein oxidative damage as measured by protein carbonyl levels in both liver and RG. Catalase activity was associated with liver lipid peroxidation as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances. The exercise-induced decrease in hepatic TGSH tended to be less in FOVE versus SOVE. Exhaustive exercise also modulated tissue antioxidant enzymes. Vitamin E supplementation markedly decreased fish oil induced antioxidant enzyme activities in all tissues. Sparing of glutathione may be an important mechanism by which vitamin E decreased tissue protein oxidative damage.