The impact of a 6-week resistance training program with pre- and post-exercise performance supplementation on cardiovascular risk, blood lipids, and fasting blood glucose in resistance trained men

Abstract

Background Nutritional supplements intended for consumption in proximity to resistance exercise are extremely popular among young males and athletes. Common components of these products include caffeine, creatine monohydrate, b-Alanine (BA), citrulline, L-arginine, branched chain amino acids (BCAA), and whey protein in proprietary blends. To date, there have been no investigations of the potential health risks or benefits associated with consumption of these products over the course of a resistance training (RT) regimen despite anecdotal reports to health complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the commercial sports nutritional supplements NO-Shotgun ® (SHOT) and NO-Synthesize ® (SYN) (Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Davie, FL) on cardiovascular risk, blood lipids, and glucose in resistance trained men following 6weeks of supplementation and concurrent resistance exercise. Methods Eight resistance trained men completed 6 weeks (3d/ week)of periodized resistance training (RT) including one day eachfor arms/shoulders, legs/core, and chest/ back. The participants were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (based on maximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps (Biodex) to lean mass ratio). Group 1 (n=5; Performance Supplement; PS) consumedone serving of SHOT before and 1 serving of SYN immediately after each RT session and on non-RT days. Group 2 (n=3; Placebo; PL) consumedan isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PL) before and immediately after each RT session and on non-RT days. Measurements included pre- and post-RT resting heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (SBP and DBP), fasting blood lipoproteinprofile and glucose (Cholestech LDX Analyzer; Cholestech Corp, Hayword, CA). Statistical analysis was conducted using a 2 x 2 repeated measures analysis of variance. Significance is set at p<0.05 and values reported as mean ± SE. Results