Mohammad Hossein Rahimi1, Sakineh Shab-Bidar1, Mehdi Mollahosseini1, Kurosh Djafarian2. 1. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Kdjafarian@tums.ac.ir.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence suggests positive effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on moderate muscle damage. However, findings vary substantially across studies. The aim of this review was to examine the effect of BCAAs on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage. METHODS: Controlled trials were identified through a computerized literature search and tracking of citations performed up to November 2015. To pool data, either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model was used; for assessing heterogeneity, Cochran's Q and I2 tests were used. RESULTS: Eight trials met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data from the eight studies showed that BCAAs significantly reduced creatine kinase at two follow-up times (<24 and 24 h) in comparison with placebo recovery (<24 h: mean difference, -71.55 U/L, 95% confidence interval, -93.49 to -49.60, P < 0.000, n = 5 trials; 24 h: mean difference, -145.04 U/L, 95% confidence interval, -253.66 to -36.43, P = 0.009, n = 8 trials). In contrast, effects were not significant in any of the follow-up times for muscle soreness or lactate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSION: The current evidence-based information indicates that use of BCAAs is better than passive recovery or rest after various forms of exhaustive and damaging exercise. The advantages relate to a reduction in muscle soreness and ameliorated muscle function because of an attenuation of muscle strength and muscle power loss after exercise.
OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence suggests positive effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on moderate muscle damage. However, findings vary substantially across studies. The aim of this review was to examine the effect of BCAAs on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage. METHODS: Controlled trials were identified through a computerized literature search and tracking of citations performed up to November 2015. To pool data, either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model was used; for assessing heterogeneity, Cochran's Q and I2 tests were used. RESULTS: Eight trials met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data from the eight studies showed that BCAAs significantly reduced creatine kinase at two follow-up times (<24 and 24 h) in comparison with placebo recovery (<24 h: mean difference, -71.55 U/L, 95% confidence interval, -93.49 to -49.60, P < 0.000, n = 5 trials; 24 h: mean difference, -145.04 U/L, 95% confidence interval, -253.66 to -36.43, P = 0.009, n = 8 trials). In contrast, effects were not significant in any of the follow-up times for muscle soreness or lactate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSION: The current evidence-based information indicates that use of BCAAs is better than passive recovery or rest after various forms of exhaustive and damaging exercise. The advantages relate to a reduction in muscle soreness and ameliorated muscle function because of an attenuation of muscle strength and muscle power loss after exercise.
Authors: Ingrid E C Verhaart; Davy van de Vijver; Joke W Boertje-van der Meulen; Kayleigh Putker; Kevin Adamzek; Annemieke Aartsma-Rus; Maaike van Putten Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-04-24 Impact factor: 3.240