Department
Exercise Science and Sport Management
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2018
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementationon recovery from eccentric exercise. Twenty males ingested either a BCAA supplement or placebo(PLCB) prior to and following eccentric exercise. Creatine kinase (CK), vertical jump (VJ), maximalvoluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), jump squat (JS) and perceived soreness were assessed.No significant (p> 0.05) group by time interaction effects were observed for CK, soreness, MVIC, VJ,or JS. CK concentrations were elevated above baseline (p< 0.001) in both groups at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hr,while CK was lower (p= 0.02) in the BCAA group at 48 hr compared to PLCB. Soreness increasedsignificantly from baseline (p< 0.01) in both groups at all time-points; however, BCAA supplementedindividuals reported less soreness (p< 0.01) at the 48 and 72 hr time-points. MVIC force outputreturned to baseline levels (p> 0.05) at 24, 48 and 72 hr for BCAA individuals. No significant differencebetween groups (p> 0.05) was detected for VJ or JS. BCAA supplementation may mitigate musclesoreness following muscle-damaging exercise. However, when consumed with a diet consistingof ~1.2 g/kg/day protein, the attenuation of muscular performance decrements or correspondingplasma CK levels are likely negligible.
Journal Title
Nutrients
Journal ISSN
2072-6643
Volume
10
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.3390/nu10101389