Effect of leucine-enriched essential amino acid supplementation on muscular fatigue and inflammatory cytokines in wheelchair basketball players

• Published in: Physical activity and nutrition pp. 38 - 46
• Main Authors: 안영환, 김지수, 김희재, 임기원
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 한국운동영양학회 01.06.2020
• Subjects: 체육
• ISSN: 2733-7545
• DOI: 10.20463/pan.2020.0013

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of leucine-enriched essential amino acid (LEAA) supplementation on the level of muscle fatigue and inflammatory cytokines in wheelchair basketball players after a basketball game and interval training. [Methods] Of 10 recruited wheelchair basketball players (aged 34.5±8.9 years; lean body mass of 34.3±10.0 kg), who had spinal cord injury (SCI) and had undergone amputation, nine participated in the final test. These nine athletes received LEAA supplements (3 times 4.0 g/day) or placebo treatment in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. We measured variables related to muscular fatigue and inflammatory response before the intense exercise and 4 days after recovery. [Results] The significant effect of LEAA supplementation was inhibition of circulating IL-6 levels in the LEAA-treated group compared with the placebo group (P < .05). However, no changes were observed in the TNF-α and creatinine kinase levels. Moreover, analysis of variance analysis showed no significant difference in the relative values of muscle soreness. However, the effect size analysis with Cohen’s d reported a significant improvement in the relative values of whole body and back muscle soreness. [Conclusion] Our results revealed that LEAA supplementation before and after intense exercise could help reduce muscle soreness and IL-6 level in wheelchair basketball players. KCI Citation Count: 0