Effects of Vitamin C on Skeletal Muscle

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA · Feb 13, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of vitamin C on muscle strength in older women. As we age, our muscles can become weaker, partly because the tiny powerhouses in our cells, called mitochondria, don't work as well. These mitochondria help turn food into energy, but they can also produce harmful compounds that may damage muscle cells. This study aims to see if vitamin C, known for its protective properties, can help mitochondria function better and improve muscle strength, allowing older individuals to stay active and independent for longer.

To participate in this trial, you must be a woman aged 65 or older, a non-smoker, and engage in less than 20 minutes of structured physical activity each week. You should also be able to understand basic instructions in English and be willing to take daily vitamin C or a placebo (a capsule that doesn’t contain the active ingredient). However, if you eat more than three servings of fruits and vegetables per day, take other antioxidant supplements, or have certain health conditions, you may not be eligible. Participants can expect to take the capsules daily and may undergo some tests to measure muscle strength and mitochondrial function throughout the study.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female, aged 65 years or over
• • Non-smoker (or ex-smoker for at least 1 year).
• • Engages in less than 20 minutes of structured physical activity per week, including cycling.
• • Able to provide informed consent.
• • Able to understand basic instructions in English.
• • Willing to take daily vitamin C or placebo capsules.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Consumes more than 3 fruits and vegetables per day, including fruit and vegetable juices.
• • Consumes vitamin C containing supplements, polyphenols, or other antioxidants (e.g. resveratrol or coenzyme q10).
• • Regularly takes anti-inflammatory drugs.
• • Alcohol intake \>14 units/week.
• • Chronic clinical diseases (e.g., coronary artery/peripheral artery/cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, diagnosed low renal function, neurological disorders or diseases that may affect motor/cognitive functions), except hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.
• • History of kidney stones within the preceding 12 months.
• • Contraindications for undergoing the MRI and exercise study procedures (e.g. major surgery, bilateral hip or knee replacement, non-MRI-compatible pacemaker or metal implants).
• • Parallel participation in another research project that involves an intervention.
• • Relation to, or co-habitation with, a member of the study team.
• • Those who are part of the line manager/supervisory structure of the Chief Investigator.