Branched-chain amino acid supplementation and the immune response of long-distance athletes.
OBJECTIVE
Intense long-duration exercise has been associated with immunosuppression, which affects natural killer cells, lymphokine-activated killer cells, and lymphocytes. The mechanisms involved, however, are not fully determined and seem to be multifactorial, including endocrine changes and alteration of plasma glutamine concentration. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the immune response of triathletes and long-distance runners.


METHODS
Peripheral blood was collected prior to and immediately after an Olympic Triathlon or a 30k run. Lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production by cultured cells, and plasma glutamine were measured.


RESULTS
After the exercise bout, athletes from the placebo group presented a decreased plasma glutamine concentration that was abolished by branched-chain amino acid supplementation and an increased proliferative response in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Those cells also produced, after exercise, less tumor necrosis factor, interleukins-1 and -4, and interferon and 48% more interleukin-2. Supplementation stimulated the production of interleukin-2 and interferon after exercise and a more pronounced decrease in the production of interleukin-4, indicating a diversion toward a Th1 type immune response.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation recovers the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferate in response to mitogens after a long distance intense exercise, as well as plasma glutamine concentration. The amino acids also modify the pattern of cytokine production leading to a diversion of the immune response toward a Th1 type of immune response.
Bassit
Reinaldo A
RA
Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sawada
Letícia A
LA
Bacurau
Reury F P
RF
Navarro
Franciso
F
Martins
Eivor
E
Santos
Ronaldo V T
RV
Caperuto
Erico C
EC
Rogeri
Patrícia
P
Costa Rosa
Luís F B P
LF
D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology
D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D016207:Cytokines; D005973:Glutamine