Bloomer 2007.
| Methods | Randomised controlled trial (parallel design) | |
| Participants | Setting: laboratory; USA n = 36 men mean age 25 (SD 5) years 18 participants had prior exercise and 18 had no prior exercise; only the results for the second group were included in this review "6 participants did not complete the study due to personal reasons (e.g. lack of time, problems with blood donation, injury resulting from accident not to the study" Participants withdrew from the following groups: 1 participant from no prior exercise placebo; 2 participants from no prior exercise antioxidant group; 2 participants from prior exercise placebo group; 1 participant from prior exercise antioxidant group Inclusion/exclusion criteria No participant was vegetarian or a smoker, nor did they use tobacco products, anti‐inflammatory drugs, or antioxidant supplements before (for a minimum of 6 months) or during the study period. Eligible participants were those capable of concentrically bench pressing a load greater or equal to their body mass, who performed resistance training using dynamic (concentric/eccentric) muscle actions for a minimum of 1 year before study participation (with no layoffs during this time period), and who performed upper‐body resistance exercises at least once per week the previous year. |
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| Interventions |
Intervention Mixed antioxidant 1000 mg of vitamin C + 378 mg mixed tocopherols – 41 mg alpha, 3 mg beta, 84 mg delta, 250 mg gamma; and 39.5 mg mixed tocotrienols – 11 mg alpha, 1.5 mg beta, 5 mg delta, 22 mg gamma Placebo Soft gel (soybean oil) and powder (cellulose) placebos were identical in appearance to the antioxidants 2 capsules per day Duration 14 days |
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| Outcomes |
PRIMARY Delayed onset muscle soreness, visual analogue scale (0 to 10 cm) following performance of 2 (concentric‐eccentric) repetitions of the barbell bench press exercise using a standard 20 kg barbell. 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "intense pain" SECONDARY Maximal isometric force in a bench press position measured using a customised force plate and power rack design. The upper arm was fixed parallel to the floor with a 90 degree angle about the elbow joint and the bar was in line with the mid‐sternum |
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| Exercise type | Barbell bench press 10 sets, 10 reps of 70% 1 RM | |
| Sources of funding | Supported in part by Jarrow Formulas and The National Strength and Conditioning Association Graduate Student Research Grant | |
| Notes | Authors were contacted on 3 October 2013 to request raw data for delayed onset muscle soreness and maximal voluntary isometric contraction and responded on 1 November 2013 In our review, only the data from the no prior exercise group were used |
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| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | No details in manuscript Authors were contacted on 24 May 2016; response: "Likely via coin flip or random number selection" |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | No details in manuscript Authors were contacted on 24 May 2016; response: "Blinding code retained by person not associated with research and/or provided in sealed envelope" |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Double‐blind |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Double‐blind |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | 6 participants did not complete all aspects of the study for personal reasons Attrition rate: 17% |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | High risk | No published protocol available All outcomes reported at all time points Adverse effects of antioxidant supplementation were not reported |
| Other bias | Low risk | Participants were asked to refrain from using anti‐inflammatory medication and other supplements for the duration of the study |