title: Post-exercise branched chain amino acid supplementation does not affect recovery markers following three consecutive high intensity resistance training bouts compared to carbohydrate supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amino acid supplementation has been shown to potentially reduced exercise-induced muscle soreness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine if branched chain amino acid and carbohydrate (BCAACHO) versus carbohydrate-only sports drink (CHO) supplementation attenuated markers of muscle damage while preserving performance markers following 3 days of intense weight training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy resistance-trained males (n = 30) performed preliminary testing (T1) whereby they: 1) donated a baseline blood draw, 2) performed knee extensor dynamometry to obtain peak quadriceps isometric and isokinetic torque as well as electromyography (EMG) activity at 60°/s and 120°/s, and 3) performed a one repetition maximum (1RM) barbell back squat. The following week participants performed 10 sets x 5 repetitions at 80 % of their 1RM barbell back squat for 3 consecutive days and 48 h following the third lifting bout participants returned for (T2) testing whereby they repeated the T1 battery. Immediately following and 24 h after the three lifting bouts, participants were randomly assigned to consume one of two commercial products in 600 mL of tap water: 1) BCAAs and CHO (3 g/d L-leucine, 1 g/d L-isoleucine and 2 g/d L-valine with 2 g of CHO; n = 15), or 2) 42 g of CHO only (n = 15). Additionally, venous blood was drawn 24 h following the first and second lifting bouts and 48 h following the third bout to assess serum myoglobin concentrations, and a visual analog scale was utilized prior, during, and after the 3-d protocol to measure subjective perceptions of muscular soreness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were similar decrements in 1RM squat strength and isokinetic peak torque measures in the BCAA-CHO and CHO groups. Serum myoglobin concentrations (p = 0.027) and perceived muscle soreness (p < 0.001) increased over the intervention regardless of supplementation. A group*time interaction was observed for monocyte percentages (p = 0.01) whereby BCAA-CHO supplementation attenuated increases in this variable over the duration of the protocol compared to CHO supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BCAA-CHO supplementation did not reduce decrements in lower body strength or improve select markers of muscle damage/soreness compared to CHO supplementation over three consecutive days of intense lower-body training.
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Wesley C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kephart
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Petey W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: A Maleah
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shake
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: C Brooks
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Mobley
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Adam E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jagodinsky
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Wendi H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Weimar
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA ; Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus, Auburn, AL USA.
authors.forename: Kaelin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: American Public University System, School of Health Sciences, Charles Town, WV USA.
authors.forename: Jordan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Molecular and Applied Sciences Laboratory, Auburn University, 301 Wire Road, Office 286, Auburn, AL 36849 USA ; Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus, Auburn, AL USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D063806:Myalgia / Q000378:metabolism*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates
keywords: Branched chain amino acids; Immune system; Muscle damage; Resistance training