title: The effects of 8 weeks of heavy resistance training and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and muscle performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the effects of 8 weeks of heavy resistance training combined with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on body composition and muscle performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resistance training was performed by 19 non-resistance-trained males (three sets of 8-10 repetitions) four times/week, for 8 weeks, while also ingesting 9 g/day of BCAA or 9 g/day of placebo (PLAC) on the exercise days only (one-half of total dose 30 min before and after exercise). Data were analyzed with separate 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For total body mass, neither group significantly increased with training (p = 0.593) and also, there were no significant changes in total body water (p = 0.517). In addition, no training- or supplement-induced (p = 0.783) changes occurred with fat mass or fat-free mass (p = 0.907). Upper-body (p = 0.047) and lower-body strength (p = 0.044) and upper- (p = 0.001) and lower-body muscle endurance (p = 0.013) increased with training; however, these increases were not different between the groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When combined with heavy resistance training for 8 weeks, supplementation with 9 g/day of BCAA 30 min before and after exercise had no preferential effects on body composition and muscle performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spillane
authors.forename: Christamarie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: Darryn S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015930:Diet Records; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010919:Placebos; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D010919:Placebos
keywords: Amino acid; body composition; exercise; muscle mass; muscle performance; muscle strength; supplementation; weight training