Thread: Vitamin C, Cortisol Control and PCT

Interesting read on Vitamin C.........


During PCT cortisol is a big problem and should be reduced at all costs. Its effects on destroying muscle are fairly dramatic and moreso post exercise.

Cortisol is a catabolic hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands, moreso post exercise. Combine that with it already being elevated during times of PCT, whilst endogenous testosterone is low is the worst case possible scenerio.

There are many products on the market (and I don't know how effective they are) that claim to reduce cortisol. But, the cheapest and best priced has to be our good old friend, Vitamin C.

I've been doing some digging on using Vitamin C for this purpose and have found some fairly good studies on it and how it can benefit us bodybuilders, or anyone during PCT.

Cortisol is elevated during times of stress, this includes both weight/resistance training AND cardio. The below study is done on long distance endurance activities, that isn't to say it cant be translated into weight/resistance training or times of stress.


1: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Jun;48(2):217-24.Links
Effect of vitamin C supplementation on lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation after 30-min exercise at 75% VO2max.Nakhostin-Roohi B, Babaei P, Rahmani-Nia F, Bohlooli S.
Department of Exercise Physiology, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran [email protected].

AIM: Hypothetically, supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins C could alleviate exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation. METHODS: Sixteen healthy untrained male volunteers participated in a 30-min exercise at 75% Vo2max. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) placebo and 2) vitamin C (VC: 1 000 mg vitamin C). Blood samples were obtained prior to supplementation (baseline), 2 h after supplementation (immediately pre-exercise), post-exercise, 2 and 24 h after exercise. Plasma levels of VC, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK), malondealdehyde (MDA), total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin C concentrations increased significantly in the VC in response to supplementation and exercise (P<0.05). TAC decreased significantly in Placebo group 24 h after exercise compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Although MDA levels were similar between groups at baseline, it increased significantly 2 h after exercise only in the Placebo group (P<0.05). CK increased immediately and 2 h after exercise in both groups and 24 h after exercise only in placebo group compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Markers of inflammation (total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts and IL-6) were increased significantly in response to the exercise (P<0.05). In VC group, there was significant increase in lymphocyte counts immediately after exercise compared with pre-exercise (P<0.05). Serum cortisol concentrations significantly declined after supplementation compared with baseline (P<0.05) as well as declined 2 and 24 h after exercise compared with immediately after exercise in VC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VC supplementation prevented endurance exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and muscle damage but had no effect on inflammatory markers.

Not many PCT's contain a cortisol reduced and they should! I'll be updating my PCT thread to include one. I may even add a cortisol reducing supplement if one is worthy!

Some may disagree that Vitamin C does not help, but it should still be a stable in your diet anyhow. Whether you take it in your multi-vitamin or consume enough of it daily from various fruits, so it cant hurt.

I'd advise users to take around 1-3g/ED of Vit C for its effects on cortisol and for its overall health benefits. Take 1g upon awakening with all your other vits/supps/minerals etc...And a further 1-2g PWO.
Other cortisol reducers include, DHEA and 7-keto-DHEA. There are also supplements marketed to reduce cortisol, such as Primordial Performances EndoAmp and Anabolic Extreme's Retain.


Posted by Swifto at: forums.steroid.com

I buy it cheap in the powder form and mix it in my protein shakes.

Here is the site I use: http://www.msm-msm.com/store/agora.c...FSWoPAod2h8ASA

Good info! I actually just started taking extra Vitamin C, I was taking 1g on top of what's in my muti but I'm gonna up it and take some post work out. Thanks!

Originally Posted by FrankTheTank

Good info! I actually just started taking extra Vitamin C, I was taking 1g on top of what's in my muti but I'm gonna up it and take some post work out. Thanks!

Read an article a few years ago in muscle mag about high doses of vit-c and vit-e directly after training being more effective on the immune system than if taking say just anytime during the day i take 2000mg vit-c and 800IU's vit-e after lifting i'm healthy as a horse bro

I think 500 mg is the saturation dose, maybe not needed to go over that.

Originally Posted by proxy

I think 500 mg is the saturation dose, maybe not needed to go over that.

The FDA recommendation for vitamin C consumption is 70 mg. per day. This is the amount that prevents the manifestation of the worst symptoms of scurvy. Is this enough for optimum health? Compare this with the amounts generated internally by other mammals. Adjusting for weight and comparing to a typical human body, a rat produces the equivalent of 2,737 - 13,902 mg per day, a rabbit produces the equivalent of 1,547 - 15,820 mg per day, etc.

While opinions vary, some suggest that dosages as high as 20,000 mg per day may be optimal. Individual needs vary according to body chemistry, stress, exposure to toxins and illness and injury. In laboratory tests of vitamin C absorption and excretion more than 50% of the population required over 2,500 mg to reach maximum absorption.

i use animal pak and it has way more than enough vit c