Effects of amino acid supplementation on muscle soreness and damage

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2006 Dec;16(6):620-35. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.16.6.620.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of a supplement containing 9 essential and 3 non-essential amino acids on muscle soreness and damage by comparing two endurance exercise bouts of the elbow flexors with amino acid or placebo supplementation in a double blind crossover design. The supplement was ingested 30 min before (10 h post-fasting) and immediately after exercise (Experiment 1), or 30 min before (2-3 h after breakfast), immediately post, and 8 more occasions over 4-day post-exercise (Experiment 2). Changes in muscle soreness and indicators of muscle damage for 4 days following exercise were compared between supplement conditions using two-way ANOVA. No significant differences between conditions were evident for Experiment 1; however, plasma creatine kinase, aldolase, myoglobin, and muscle soreness were significantly lower for the amino acid versus placebo condition in Experiment 2. These results suggest that amino acid supplementation attenuates DOMS and muscle damage when ingested in recovery days.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Amino Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Creatine Kinase / metabolism
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise Test
  • Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Fatigue / drug effects
  • Muscle Fatigue / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Myoglobin / metabolism
  • Physical Endurance* / drug effects
  • Physical Endurance* / physiology
  • Recovery of Function / drug effects*
  • Recovery of Function / physiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Myoglobin
  • Creatine Kinase
  • Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase