Whole body and muscle response to protein and branched chain amino acid feeding following intense exercise

Jackman, Sarah Rebecca (2012). Whole body and muscle response to protein and branched chain amino acid feeding following intense exercise. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Protein and amino acid ingestion has been investigated as an aid in recovery from eccentric exercise induced muscle damage. However, the results of the studies are conflicting. There are two studies in this thesis that examine the effect of ingesting branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and protein following eccentric exercise in untrained males. Ingestion of BCAA resulted in a decrease in muscle soreness. However ingestion of whey protein isolate resulted in reduced muscle soreness and a reduction in the decrement of muscle function. These results suggest that ingestion of all amino acids are required to reduce decrements of muscle function associated with intense eccentric exercise.

Ingestion of essential amino acids or intact protein sources during exercise recovery further stimulates muscle protein synthesis. The effect on muscle protein synthesis of ingesting only BCAA has not been investigated. Ingestion of BCAA increases phosphorylation status of signalling proteins associated with translation. This thesis demonstrates that following an acute bout of resistance exercise, ingestion of BCAA resulted in a 22% increase in muscle protein synthesis and 12% higher phosphorylation of S6K1THR389. These results suggest that only the ingestion of BCAA are required to augment the response muscle protein synthesis to exercise.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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