Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Endurance Performance and Athletic Injury

It has been postulated that supplemental doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may improve endurance performance and perhaps reduce the severity and morbidity of athletic injuries.1-4The present study was designed to answer these questions and to determine the long-term effects of a large supplemental dose of ascorbic acid in contrast to those of a placebo. Materials and Methods Two hundred and eighty-six male officers (average age, 28.0 years) participated in this study while attending the 12-week Squadron Officers School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Each officer ran the 12-minute field test5at the beginning of training and then was given a bottle containing either 500-mg tablets of ascorbic acid or a placebo. The bottles were numbered at random with a code that was kept in strict secrecy until completion of the study. The subjects were instructed to take two pills each day throughout the training period. Also,