OBJECTIVE:

: The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of vitamin E and C supplementation on inflammatory cytokines and the association between reciprocally regulated cytokines after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

DESIGN:

: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in men undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery who were randomly assigned to one of two groups (n = 10/group): (1) antioxidant (vitamins E and C) or (2) matching placebos starting ∼2 wks before (baseline) and concluding 3 mos after surgery. Plasma inflammatory cytokines were measured in fasting blood draw samples before and after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

RESULTS:

: Plasma interleukin (IL) 1β concentrations were double at 3 mos after surgery compared with baseline. Plasma IL-1β increased to a greater (P < 0.05) extent relative to IL-4 in the placebo group (mean ± SE slope, 18.87 ± 0.68; r = 0.97) than in the antioxidant group (mean ± SE slope, 4.84 ± 0.42; r = 0.89). Similarly, the relative increase in IL-1β to IL-2 was greater (P < 0.05) in the placebo (mean ± SE slope, 2.70 ± 0.21) than in the antioxidant (mean ± SE slope, 1.08 ± 0.23) group.

CONCLUSIONS:

: Vitamins E and C were ineffective in ameliorating the increases in IL-1β but altered associations between reciprocally regulated cytokines after anterior cruciate ligament surgery.