Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals
Background: Nutritional supplements based on the amino acid L-arginine have been hypothesized to improve exercise performance by increasing levels of insulin and growth hormone (GH). Changes of these parameters in response to L-arginine supplementation may clarify the mechanisms underlying its putat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Swedish Nutrition Foundation
2014-03-01
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| Series: | Food & Nutrition Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/download/22569/33041 |
| _version_ | 1818497461121974272 |
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| author | Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva Carlos Adam Conte-Junior Vânia Margaret Flosi Paschoalin Thiago da Silveira Alvares |
| author_facet | Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva Carlos Adam Conte-Junior Vânia Margaret Flosi Paschoalin Thiago da Silveira Alvares |
| author_sort | Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Nutritional supplements based on the amino acid L-arginine have been hypothesized to improve exercise performance by increasing levels of insulin and growth hormone (GH). Changes of these parameters in response to L-arginine supplementation may clarify the mechanisms underlying its putative physiological effects on physical performance. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation on serum insulin, GH, Growth Factor Insulin-like (IGF-1), and cortisol in response to exercise. Exercise performance was also evaluated. Design: Fifteen trained runners were divided into groups supplemented with 6 g of L-arginine (ARG) or placebo (PLA). Blood samples were collected before supplementation (T0), immediately after the first exercise session (T1), after the second exercise session (T2), and after 20 min of rest (T3). The exercise consisted of two bouts of 5 km time-trial running test. Results: There was a significant increase in serum GH (T0: 3.28±0.95 vs. 3.21±0.5 ng/mL; T1: 4.35±0.23 vs. 4.17±0.13 ng/mL; T2: 4.22±0.25 vs. 4.17±0.09 ng/mL; T3: 4.14±0.29 vs. 4.13±0.18 ng/mL) and cortisol (T0: 198.71±53.77 vs. 207.57±69.51 nmol/L; T1: 458.16±116.12 vs. 433.26±101.77 nmol/L; T2: 454.61±125.21 vs. 431.88±74.82 nmol/L; T3: 311.14±102.91 vs. 362.26±110.42 nmol/L) after T1, T2, and T3, with no significant difference between the ARG and PLA groups, respectively. There was also no significant difference observed in the variables of IGF-1, insulin, and total running time between the ARG and PLA groups. Conclusions: The supplementation of L-arginine did not appear to stimulate the production of insulin, GH, and IGF-1 and, thus, provided no benefit in hormonal response or exercise performance in trained runners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:46:03Z |
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| id | doaj.art-94b252559a1a4c0784f5f6c2202b734a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-6628 1654-661X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:46:03Z |
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| publisher | Swedish Nutrition Foundation |
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| series | Food & Nutrition Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-94b252559a1a4c0784f5f6c2202b734a2022-12-22T01:37:30ZengSwedish Nutrition FoundationFood & Nutrition Research1654-66281654-661X2014-03-015801610.3402/fnr.v58.2256922569Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individualsDavi Vieira Teixeira da Silva0Carlos Adam Conte-Junior1Vânia Margaret Flosi Paschoalin2Thiago da Silveira Alvares3 Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Department of Food Technology, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBackground: Nutritional supplements based on the amino acid L-arginine have been hypothesized to improve exercise performance by increasing levels of insulin and growth hormone (GH). Changes of these parameters in response to L-arginine supplementation may clarify the mechanisms underlying its putative physiological effects on physical performance. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation on serum insulin, GH, Growth Factor Insulin-like (IGF-1), and cortisol in response to exercise. Exercise performance was also evaluated. Design: Fifteen trained runners were divided into groups supplemented with 6 g of L-arginine (ARG) or placebo (PLA). Blood samples were collected before supplementation (T0), immediately after the first exercise session (T1), after the second exercise session (T2), and after 20 min of rest (T3). The exercise consisted of two bouts of 5 km time-trial running test. Results: There was a significant increase in serum GH (T0: 3.28±0.95 vs. 3.21±0.5 ng/mL; T1: 4.35±0.23 vs. 4.17±0.13 ng/mL; T2: 4.22±0.25 vs. 4.17±0.09 ng/mL; T3: 4.14±0.29 vs. 4.13±0.18 ng/mL) and cortisol (T0: 198.71±53.77 vs. 207.57±69.51 nmol/L; T1: 458.16±116.12 vs. 433.26±101.77 nmol/L; T2: 454.61±125.21 vs. 431.88±74.82 nmol/L; T3: 311.14±102.91 vs. 362.26±110.42 nmol/L) after T1, T2, and T3, with no significant difference between the ARG and PLA groups, respectively. There was also no significant difference observed in the variables of IGF-1, insulin, and total running time between the ARG and PLA groups. Conclusions: The supplementation of L-arginine did not appear to stimulate the production of insulin, GH, and IGF-1 and, thus, provided no benefit in hormonal response or exercise performance in trained runners.http://www.foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/download/22569/33041nutritional supplementsamino acidsinsulingrowth hormoneexercise performance |
| spellingShingle | Davi Vieira Teixeira da Silva Carlos Adam Conte-Junior Vânia Margaret Flosi Paschoalin Thiago da Silveira Alvares Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals Food & Nutrition Research nutritional supplements amino acids insulin growth hormone exercise performance |
| title | Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| title_full | Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| title_fullStr | Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| title_short | Hormonal response to L-arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| title_sort | hormonal response to l arginine supplementation in physically active individuals |
| topic | nutritional supplements amino acids insulin growth hormone exercise performance |
| url | http://www.foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/download/22569/33041 |
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