title: Effects of Arachidonic Acid Supplementation on Acute Anabolic Signaling and Chronic Functional Performance and Body Composition Adaptations.
abstract: The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of arachidonic acid (ARA) supplementation on functional performance and body composition in trained males. In addition, we performed a secondary study looking at molecular responses of ARA supplementation following an acute exercise bout in rodents.
  
  
  
  Thirty strength-trained males (age: 20.4 ± 2.1 yrs) were randomly divided into two groups: ARA or placebo (i.e. CTL). Then, both groups underwent an 8-week, 3-day per week, non-periodized training protocol. Quadriceps muscle thickness, whole-body composition scan (DEXA), muscle strength, and power were assessed at baseline and post-test. In the rodent model, male Wistar rats (~250 g, ~8 weeks old) were pre-fed with either ARA or water (CTL) for 8 days and were fed the final dose of ARA prior to being acutely strength trained via electrical stimulation on unilateral plantar flexions. A mixed muscle sample was removed from the exercised and non-exercised leg 3 hours post-exercise.
  
  
  
  Lean body mass (2.9%, p<0.0005), upper-body strength (8.7%, p<0.0001), and peak power (12.7%, p<0.0001) increased only in the ARA group. For the animal trial, GSK-β (Ser9) phosphorylation (p<0.001) independent of exercise and AMPK phosphorylation after exercise (p-AMPK less in ARA, p = 0.041) were different in ARA-fed versus CTL rats.
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that ARA supplementation can positively augment strength-training induced adaptations in resistance-trained males. However, chronic studies at the molecular level are required to further elucidate how ARA combined with strength training affect muscle adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Eduardo O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher Brooks
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mobley
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carlton D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: The Center for Applied Health Sciences, 4302 Allen Road, STE 120, Stow, OH, 44224, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hector L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jacob T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jacob A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ormes
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, The University of Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jordan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D009142:Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D055070:Resistance Training; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases