ABSTRACT
The relationship between ascorbic acid and exercise has been studied for a number of years, with several review articles having been written covering this topic. While the existence of vitamin C has been known for only a relatively short time, the fact that a vitamin C deficiency could adversely affect physical performance has been documented for centuries. The current adult Dietary Reference Intake/Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin C is 75 mg/day for women and 90 mg/day for men. Research has previously documented that strenuous or prolonged exercise can compromise the immune system. Numerous studies have been performed over the last 50–60 years concerning the relationship between ascorbic acid intake and improvement of physical performance. Numerous studies have been conducted in an attempt to find possible ergogenic effects of ascorbic acid. The results of these studies are mixed. Many report possible ergogenic effects of vitamin C, while just as many studies find no effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on subsequent performance.
