Antioxidants in Personalized Nutrition and Exercise

Abstract

The present review highlights the idea that antioxidant supplementation can be optimized when tailored to the precise antioxidant status of each individual. A novel methodologic approach involving personalized nutrition, the mechanisms by which antioxidant status regulates human metabolism and performance, and similarities between antioxidants and other nutritional supplements are described. The usefulness of higher-level phenotypes for data-driven personalized treatments is also explained. We conclude that personally tailored antioxidant interventions based on specific antioxidant inadequacies or deficiencies could result in improved exercise performance accompanied by consistent alterations in redox profile.

FIGURE 1

The conventional (A) and the novel “stratification” (B) approach with regard to antioxidant supplementation. The conventional approach is characterized by the indiscriminate administration of antioxidants irrespective of the redox profile of the individual. On the contrary, the stratified approach aims to identify potential antioxidant deficiencies in order to tailor the most suitable treatment (if needed).

FIGURE 2

The differential effects of antioxidant supplementation on physical performance (O₂max), oxidative stress (F₂-isoprostanes), and antioxidant concentrations [vitamin C (A) and glutathione (B)] according to baseline antioxidant concentration. The 100% level corresponds to the presupplementation values. Values are based on data from references and .

FIGURE 3

Four major limitations when designing genome-driven personalized nutritional treatments.

FIGURE 4

An “idealized” analytical tool to assess (e.g., via a capillary blood sample) an individual's systemic antioxidant profile in order to tailor the most optimal nutritional redox treatment. Individual 1 represents a person with low concentrations of GSH and NAD(P)H [e.g., due to dysregulated NAD(P)H redox metabolism]; individual 2 represents a vitamin E–deficient person (e.g., due to malnutrition); individual 3 represents a person with a highly disturbed antioxidant profile (e.g., due to severe illness); individual 4 represents an apparently healthy person with normal antioxidant status who does not need any exogenous antioxidant supplement. C, vitamin C; Car, carotene; E, vitamin E; GSH, reduced glutathione; LA, lipoic acid; N, NAD(P)H; Q10, coenzyme Q10; UA, uric acid.