Exercise-induced Muscle Damage is Reduced in Resistance Trained Athletes by Branch Chain Amino Acids - Full Text View

Purpose

It is well documented that exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) decreases muscle function and causes severe soreness and discomfort. Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has been shown to increase protein synthesis and decrease muscle protein breakdown, however, the effects of BCAAs on recovery from EIMD are unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a BCAA supplement on markers of muscle damage.

Condition	Intervention
Exercise-induced Muscle Damage	Dietary Supplement: Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Dietary Supplement: Placebo - asparmate

Study Type:	Interventional
Study Design:	Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator) Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title:	Exercise-induced Muscle Damage is Reduced in Resistance Trained Athletes by Branch Chain Amino Acids

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Dietary Supplements Exercise and Physical Fitness

Drug Information available for: Amino acids

U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Northumbria University:

Primary Outcome Measures:

Maximal voluntary contraction [ Time Frame: pre exercise, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h post-exercise ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Isometric MVC of the participants' dominant knee extensors was assessed using a strain gauge. MVCs were performed for 3 s with a 60 s rest between each repetition.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Limb girths [ Time Frame: pre-exercise, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Mid-thigh and calf circumference was assessed as a measure of limb swelling using an anthropometric tape measure. Both measures were obtained with the participant in a standing position.
Vertical jump [ Time Frame: pre-exercise, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Vertical jump (VJ) performance was assessed using the Vertec instrument. Participants performed a counter movement jump.
Creatine kinase [ Time Frame: pre-exercise, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Plasma CK was determined from an earlobe capillary blood sample. The sample (30 microlitres) was analysed immediately using an automated, dry slide photospectrometer.
Muscle soreness [ Time Frame: pre-exercise, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Muscle soreness - Participants were asked to perform and hold a squat (90° knee angle) whilst they rated their perceived muscle soreness on a 200 mm visual analogue scale. The scale consisted of a line from 0 mm (no pain) to 200 mm (unbearably painful).

Enrollment:	12
Study Start Date:	June 2011
Study Completion Date:	September 2011
Primary Completion Date:	September 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Arms	Assigned Interventions
Experimental: BCAA Branched chain amino acid	Dietary Supplement: Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) Supplementation lasted for a total of 12 days; this was based on previous research showing a positive with BCAA supplementation on markers of muscle damage. Participants ingested 10 g, twice per day (morning and evening) of BCAA . The BCAA supplement contained a ratio of 2:1:1 (leucine, isoleucine and valine, respectively). The BCAA was in powder form where each serving was mixed with ~300 ml of water.
Placebo Comparator: Asparmate Placebo control containing no protein or carbohydrate	Dietary Supplement: Placebo - asparmate Supplementation lasted for a total of 12 days. Participants ingested an equivalent looking volume to 10 g of BCAA, twice per day (morning and evening) of placebo (aspartame based artificial sweetener). The BCAA supplement contained a ratio of 2:1:1 (leucine, isoleucine and valine, respectively). The artificial sweetener was in powder form where each serving was mixed with ~300 ml of water.

Arms

Assigned Interventions

Experimental: BCAA

Branched chain amino acid

Dietary Supplement: Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA)

Supplementation lasted for a total of 12 days; this was based on previous research showing a positive with BCAA supplementation on markers of muscle damage. Participants ingested 10 g, twice per day (morning and evening) of BCAA . The BCAA supplement contained a ratio of 2:1:1 (leucine, isoleucine and valine, respectively). The BCAA was in powder form where each serving was mixed with ~300 ml of water.

Placebo Comparator: Asparmate

Placebo control containing no protein or carbohydrate

Dietary Supplement: Placebo - asparmate

Supplementation lasted for a total of 12 days. Participants ingested an equivalent looking volume to 10 g of BCAA, twice per day (morning and evening) of placebo (aspartame based artificial sweetener). The BCAA supplement contained a ratio of 2:1:1 (leucine, isoleucine and valine, respectively). The artificial sweetener was in powder form where each serving was mixed with ~300 ml of water.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:	18 Years to 30 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:	Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:	Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Resistance trained males

Exclusion Criteria:

- Muscular skeletal disorders

Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01529281

Sponsors and Collaborators

Northumbria University

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Glyn Howatson, PhD

Northumbria University

More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party:	Northumbria University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:	NCT01529281 History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers:	Northumbria_How_BCAA
Study First Received:	February 2, 2012
Last Updated:	February 6, 2012
Health Authority:	United Kingdom: Food Standards Agency

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 18, 2013