Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have evaluated the effectiveness of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation for preventing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise, their findings have been inconclusive. Since taurine has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, the present study investigated the combined effect of BCAA and taurine on DOMS and muscle damage.MethodsThirty-six untrained male subjects (22.5 ± 3.8 years) were assigned to four groups (placebo + placebo [placebo], BCAA + placebo, placebo + taurine, and BCAA + taurine [combined]) and given a combination of 3.2 g BCAA (or placebo) and 2.0 g taurine (or placebo), three times a day, for two weeks prior to and three days after eccentric elbow flexor exercises. DOMS and muscle damage in the biceps brachii were subjectively and objectively evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), upper arm circumference (CIR), and blood parameters (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], aldolase, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]).ResultsIn the combined group, VAS and 8-OHdG two days after exercise, CIR two and three days after exercise and LDH from one to three days after exercise were significantly lower than the placebo group. The area under the curve from before exercise to four days later for CIR, LDH, and aldolase was also significantly lower in the combined group than in the placebo group.ConclusionA combination of 3.2 g BCAA and 2.0 g taurine, three times a day, for two weeks prior to and three days after exercise may be a useful nutritional strategy for attenuating exercise-induced DOMS and muscle damage.

Highlights

  • The importance and benefits of regular exercise in maintaining overall health and preventing aging are well known

  • We investigated by means of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial whether a combination of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and taurine supplements can provide an effective nutritional strategy for attenuating delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage induced by high-intensity exercise in humans

  • The daily doses of BCAA and taurine were based on the doses used in previous studies, which examined the effectiveness of BCAA supplementation on DOMS [9,22] and plasma taurine levels [23]

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Summary

Introduction

The importance and benefits of regular exercise in maintaining overall health and preventing aging are well known. BCAAs have been reported in many studies to attenuate DOMS and muscle damage induced by exercise [4,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Previous studies have evaluated the combined effects of various nutrients and BCAA supplements on DOMS and muscle damage. Stock et al examined the combined effect of leucine supplementation and a carbohydrate beverage on DOMS and serum muscle damage markers during the recovery period following squat exercises; no significant effects were found before or after exercise [12]. Previous studies have evaluated the effectiveness of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation for preventing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise, their findings have been inconclusive. Since taurine has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, the present study investigated the combined effect of BCAA and taurine on DOMS and muscle damage

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Conclusion

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