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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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EXERCISE X BCAA SUPPLEMENTATION IN YOUNG TRAINED RATS: WHAT ARE THEIR EFFECTS ON BODY GROWTH? |
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Patricia Lopes de Campos-Ferraz1, Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro2, Silmara dos Santos Luz1, Antonio Herbert Lancha Jr.3 and Julio Tirapegui1  |
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1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, 3School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 483 - 490 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Branched-chain
amino acids (BCAAs) supplementation had any beneficial effects on growth
and metabolic parameters of young rats submitted to chronic aerobic exercise.
Thirty-two young rats (age: 21-d) were randomly assigned to four experimental
groups (n = 8): Supplemented Trained (Sup/Ex), Control Trained (Ctrl/Ex),
Supplemented Sedentary (Sup/Sed) and Control Sedentary (Ctrl/Sed). The trained
groups underwent a five-week swimming protocol and received supplemented
(45 mg BCAA/body weight/day) or control ration. Trained animals presented
a lower body length and a higher cartilage weight, regardless of supplementation.
Physical activity was responsible for a substantial reduction in proteoglycan
synthesis in cartilage tissue, and BCAA supplementation was able to attenuate
this reduction and also to improve glycogen stores in the liver, although
no major differences were found in body growth associated to this supplementation.
Key words: Branched-chain amino acids, exercise, growth, metabolism, leucine, rat. |
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