EFFECTS OF POLYUNSATURATED PHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE, BODY COMPOSITION AND RECOVERY FOLLOWING REPEATED RESISTANCE EXERCISE.

Abstract

Damage to cellular ultra-structures following resistance exercise is associated with muscle soreness, leakage of intracellular proteins into the circulation, increases in lipid peroxidation, and reduced strength and power. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of phosphatidylcholine (PPC) in a micronutrient matrix on body composition and recovery responses to repeated bouts of resistance exercise. METHODS: A two-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled design with repeated measures was used. Eighteen healthy men were randomly assigned to a PPC (n = 9) or placebo (n = 9) group. After 3 weeks of supplementation, subjects performed 3 resistance exercise sessions (EX-1, EX-2, and EX-3) with 3 days recovery between sessions (4 sets of 10 repetitions of squat, bench press, bent row, and shoulder press). Maximal strength, explosive power, and muscular endurance were assessed at each exercise session. Body composition was assessed using duel-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting blood samples and perceived ratings of muscle soreness were obtained before EX-1 and for 10 consecutive days. RESULTS. There was a significant (p ≥ 0.05) increase in serum creatine kinase on Day 2 for the PPC group and Days 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 for the Placebo group. Malonaldehyde (MDA) responses indicated a significant main time and interaction effect. MDA was unchanged for the PPC group whereas MDA was significantly elevated above baseline on Days 8 and 9 for the Placebo. There was a significant main time effect for changes in lean body mass (+0.74 vs. 0.33kg) for PPC over Placebo. Muscle soreness peaked the day after EX-1 and gradually returned to baseline values by EX-3. Compared with EX-1, squat strength, bench press strength, and jump squat peak power were significantly decreased at EX-2 (-10%) for both PPC and Placebo groups, however bench press strength recovered more quickly at EX-3 in the PPC group. Bench press endurance repetitions were significantly decreased at EX-2 in the Placebo but not the PPC group. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence of a potentially favorable effect of PPC supplementation on LBM and the recovery from resistance exercise that may become more pronounced over a longer period of time. This research was supported in part by the Livron Company, Allendale, NJ.