The Claim

Antioxidant supplementation during resistance training is associated with reduced ubiquitin-proteasome pathway activity in skeletal muscle, and this reduction does not result in measurable differences in net muscle growth.

Source: Vitamin supplementation and resistance exercise‐induced muscle hypertrophy: shifting the redox balance scale?

What the research says

Not yet evaluated

We are still looking at what the research says.

Supports
0score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

How it works
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Taking antioxidant supplements while doing resistance training is linked to lower activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in skeletal muscle, but this change does not lead to measurable differences in muscle mass gain.

See the scientific wording

Antioxidant supplementation during resistance training is associated with reduced ubiquitin-proteasome pathway activity in skeletal muscle, which may reflect altered protein turnover dynamics, though this does not translate to measurable differences in net muscle growth.

Why this might work

Taking antioxidant supplements during strength training reduces the natural stress signals from molecules called ROS, which normally tell the muscle to break down old or damaged proteins. This causes less protein breakdown, but the muscle still builds new protein at the same rate, so overall muscle size doesn't change.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Vitamin supplementation and resistance exercise‐induced muscle hypertrophy: shifting the redox balance scale?

    Taking vitamin C and E while lifting weights lowered the body’s system that breaks down muscle proteins, but your muscles didn’t get any bigger or stronger as a result.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.