D-18 Free Communication/Slide - Fitness and Testing in Special Populations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: resistance exercise promotes adaptations and health benefits for general population. However, from heavy resistance exercise the same benefits are not achieved, mainly by the involvement of high oxidative stress and muscle damage, which lead to the impairment of glutamine metabolism. Oral supplementation with L-glutamine as a dipeptide or in its free form along with L-alanine has antioxidant properties in aerobic trained rats, nevertheless these effects in resistance training are still unclear. PURPOSE: determine the effects of oral chronic supplementation with L-glutamine and L-alanine, both in its free form or as dipeptide on plasma and tissue glutamine, lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and plasma creatine kinase (CK) in rats subjected to resistance training. METHODS: adult male Wistar rats were subjected to resistance training for 6 weeks and supplemented with L-alanyl-L-glutamine (DIP, group), L-glutamine and L-alanine, both in its free form (GLN+ALA, group), L-alanine only (ALA, group) or water (CTRL, group). Resistance training consisted to climb a ladder 3 to 6 sets with progressive loads (25% to 100% of body weight). In the last 21 days of training, supplements were given in a 4% solution dissolved in drinking water. Glutaminemia and CK were evaluated in plasma and, glutamine and TBARS were determined in liver and skeletal muscles (Extensor digitorum longus-EDL and tibialis). RESULTS: glutaminemia was higher in ALA and DIP groups (by 50% and 40%, respectively), than control (p<0.05), without changes in plasma CK. DIP and GLN+ALA increased (by 62% and 60%, respectively) glutamine levels in tibialis muscle compared to CTRL group. TBARS in EDL muscle and liver were increased (by 71% and 50%, respectively) in CTRL group, as compared to sedentary group, and this response was remitted by GLN+ALA supplementation (by 50%). CONCLUSION: oral supplementation with L-glutamine and L-alanine increases muscle glutamine stores, which may attenuate oxidative stress induced by heavy resistance training. Acknowledgements to FAPESP