The Claim
Antioxidant supplementation with vitamins C and E during resistance training is associated with reduced skeletal muscle specific force, despite no difference in muscle size or maximal strength.
What the research says
Not yet evaluated
We are still looking at what the research says.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Taking vitamin C and E supplements while doing resistance training is linked to lower muscle force per unit of muscle tissue, even when muscle size and maximum strength remain unchanged.
See the scientific wording
Antioxidant supplementation with vitamins C and E during resistance training is associated with reduced skeletal muscle specific force, despite no difference in muscle size or maximal strength, suggesting a potential impairment in muscle quality or neuromuscular efficiency.
Taking vitamin C and E supplements during strength training reduces natural chemical signals from muscle activity that tell the muscle to clean up and replace old proteins. This causes the muscle to keep less-efficient proteins, so even though the muscle gets bigger and stronger overall, each part of it produces less force.
What the research says
1 studyPeople who took vitamin C and E pills while strength training got just as strong and built just as much muscle as those who didn’t, but their muscles weren’t as strong for their size — like having a big engine that doesn’t pull as hard.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.