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Branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation decreases delayed‐onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induced by squat exercise in humans
Author(s) -
Inaguma Asami,
Yamamoto Yuko,
Watanabe Satoko,
Bajotto Gustavo,
Sato Juichi,
Kobayashi Hisamine,
Mawatari Kazunori,
Shimomura Yoshiharu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1043
Subject(s) - squat , placebo , medicine , isometric exercise , visual analogue scale , crossover study , leg press , physical therapy , delayed onset muscle soreness , morning , muscle strength , muscle damage , alternative medicine , pathology
We conducted a human study to examine the effects of BCAA supplementation on DOMS and muscle fatigue induced by exercise. 12 healthy female students (21‐24 years old, BMI: 19.4 ± 0.5), who did not take regular exercise, participated in this study. The experiment was conducted with crossover and double blind design. The composition of the test solutions used in this study was as follows: a BCAA solution (200 ml) containing 5.5 g BCAA (I:L:V = 1:2.3:1.2), 1 g green tea powder, and 1.2 g non‐nutritive sweetener; and a placebo solution (200 ml) containing the same ingredients as the BCAA solution, but substituting 5.5 g dextrin for the BCAA. In the morning on the exercise trial day, subjects ingested either test solution at 0.1 g BCAA or dextrin/kg BW 15 min before squat exercise. The squat exercise consisted of 7 sets of 20 squats/set with 3 min intervals between each set. During each set, squats were performed every 2 sec. The leg muscle power was measured 2 days after exercise (3rd day). DOMS evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) showed a peak on the 2nd and 3rd days in both trials, but the level of soreness was significantly lower in the BCAA trial than in the placebo trial, reflecting to the maximal isometric strength of knee extension being higher in the BCAA trial. Muscle fatigue evaluated by the VAS tended to be lower in the BCAA trial than in the placebo trial during 5 test days. These results suggest that BCAA supplementation contribute to bring better conditions of muscle after exercise.