title: Branched-chain amino acids and arginine improve performance in two consecutive days of simulated handball games in male and female athletes: a randomized trial.
abstract: The central nervous system plays a crucial role in the development of physical fatigue. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of combined supplementation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and arginine on intermittent sprint performance in simulated handball games on 2 consecutive days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen male and seven female handball players consumed 0.17 g/kg BCAA and 0.04 g/kg arginine together (AA trial), or placebo (PB trial) before exercise. Each trial contained two 60-min simulated handball games on consecutive days. The game was consisted of 30 identical 2-min blocks and a 20 m all-out sprint was performed at the end of each block. The performance, measured by percentage changes of sprint time between day 1 and 2, was significantly better in the AA trial (first half: AA trial: -1.34 ± 0.60%, PB trial: -0.21 ± 0.69%; second half: AA trial: -1.68 ± 0.58%, PB trial: 0.49 ± 0.42%). The average ratings of perceive exertion throughout the 2-day trial was significantly lower in the AA trial (14.2 ± 0.3) than the PB trial (15.1 ± 0.4). Concurrently, post-exercise tryptophan/BCAA ratio on both days in the AA trial was significantly lower than the baseline. This study showed that BCAA and arginine supplementation could improve performance in intermittent sprints on the second consecutive day of simulated handball games in well-trained athletes by potentially alleviating central fatigue.
authors: Sport Science Research Center, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Kang
authors: CK
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Ball Sport, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Kun-Ming
authors: KM
authors: Chang Chien
authors: Office of Physical Education, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Jung-Hsien
authors: JH
authors: Chang
authors: Institute of Sport Performance, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Mei-Hsuan
authors: MH
authors: Huang
authors: Institute of Sport Performance, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Ya-Chuan
authors: YC
authors: Liang
authors: Graduate Institute of Sports Training, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Tsung-Han
authors: TH
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D001120:Arginine