Abstract
PurposeMethoxyisoflavone (M), 20-hydroxyecdysone (E), and sulfo-polysaccharide (CSP3) have been marketed to athletes as dietary supplements that can increase strength and muscle mass during resistance-training. However, little is known about their potential ergogenic value. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these supplements affect training adaptations and/or markers of muscle anabolism/catabolism in resistance-trained athletes.MethodsForty-five resistance-trained males (20.5 ± 3 yrs; 179 ± 7 cm, 84 ± 16 kg, 17.3 ± 9% body fat) were matched according to FFM and randomly assigned to ingest in a double blind manner supplements containing either a placebo (P); 800 mg/day of M; 200 mg of E; or, 1,000 mg/day of CSP3 for 8-weeks during training. At 0, 4, and 8-weeks, subjects donated fasting blood samples and completed comprehensive muscular strength, muscular endurance, anaerobic capacity, and body composition analysis. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA.ResultsNo significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in training adaptations among groups in the variables FFM, percent body fat, bench press 1 RM, leg press 1 RM or sprint peak power. Anabolic/catabolic analysis revealed no significant differences among groups in active testosterone (AT), free testosterone (FT), cortisol, the AT to cortisol ratio, urea nitrogen, creatinine, the blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio. In addition, no significant differences were seen from pre to post supplementation and/or training in AT, FT, or cortisol.ConclusionResults indicate that M, E, and CSP3 supplementation do not affect body composition or training adaptations nor do they influence the anabolic/catabolic hormone status or general markers of catabolism in resistance-trained males.
Highlights
Numerous nutritional supplements are marketed as ergogenic aids to resistance-trained athletes in an attempt to promote increases in strength, power, and/or muscle mass during training
The purpose of this study was to determine whether methoxyisoflavone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, or sulfopolysaccharide supplementation affects muscle mass, training adaptations, or markers of muscle growth and/or breakdown in resistance-trained males
The major finding of this study was that dietary supplementation of commercially available supplements containing methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterone, and sulfopolysaccharide (CSP3) did not significantly affect anabolic or catabolic responses to resistance training, body composition, or training adaptations
Summary
Numerous nutritional supplements are marketed as ergogenic aids to resistance-trained athletes in an attempt to promote increases in strength, power, and/or muscle mass during training. Over the last few years, methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterones, and sulfo-polysaccharide (a purported myostatin inhibitor) have been marketed as potential anabolic promoting nutritional supplements for resistancetrained athletes. Initial claims based on animal research suggested that methoxyisoflavone supplementation possesses a muscle-building and bone-building (anabolic) component without the side effects of traditional hormone replacement therapies that would give similar results 1. Despite these claims, the only beneficial effect of methoxyisoflavone that has been reported in multiple research publications and U.S
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