Skeletal Muscle Response to Amino Acids and Load Carriage Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Loss; Muscle Anabolism; Muscle Performance
• Interventions: Other: Placebo; Other: Leucine-enriched nutritional supplement

• Registration Number: NCT01714479
• Lead Sponsor: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Brief Summary

Warfighters often experience physical overload, as the uniform and associated gear that they carry burdens them with substantial loads. The loads increase energy expenditure to levels that exceed a Warfighter's typical energy intake. The typical assault load is approximately 25 kg, although loads as high as 55 kg are often carried, which when combined with extreme energy expenditures can degrade health and performance, and increase the risk of injury. Branched-chain amino acid (leucine) supplementation may confer protection against the negative effects of operational stress by stimulating muscle protein synthesis and reducing degradation. This study will determine if leucine-enriched nutrition supplementation confers protection against the negative consequences of sustained load carriage exercise, and explore the mechanisms by which leucine might impart protection.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-10
• Study First Submitted: 2012-10-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-10-25
• Study First Posted: 2012-10-26
• Primary Completion: 2013-11
• Study Completion: 2013-11
• Status Verified: 2016-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-07-19
• Last Update Posted: 2017-07-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Weight stable (±5 lbs)with a body mass index between 22-29 kg/m2 and a VO2peak of 40 - 60 ml/kg/min
• Willing to refrain from taking any NSAIDS (i.e., aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Naprosyn®), or any aspirin-containing products, alchohol, and nicotine
• Females must be on oral contraception

Exclusion Criteria

• Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders
• Disease or medication that affects macronutrient metabolism or the ability to participate in strenuous exercise
• Allergies or intolerance to foods (e.g. lactose intolerance/milk allergy), vegetarian practices, or medications (including, but not limited to, lidocaine or phenylalanine) to be used in the study
• Anemia (HCT <38) and Sickle Cell Anemia/Trait, abnormal PT/PTT test or problems with blood clotting
• Present condition of alcoholism, use of nutritional/sports supplements, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
• Musculoskeletal injuries that compromise the ability to exercise
• Blood donation within 8 weeks of enrollment
• Pregnancy and women not on oral contraceptives

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Load Carriage - Control	Placebo	Load Carriage - with a calorie-free placebo
Conventional Exercise - Control	Placebo	Conventional Exercise with a calorie-free placebo
Load Carriage - leucine-enriched nutrition supplement	Leucine-enriched nutritional supplement	Load Carriage with leucine-enriched amino acid supplementation
Conventional Exercise - Leucine-enriched Nutrition Supplement	Leucine-enriched nutritional supplement	Conventional Exercise with leucine-enriched Amino Acid supplementation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in muscle protein synthesis and whole-body protein turnover during and after load carriage or conventional exercise with or without amino acid supplementation	90 min exercise bout (exercise) and 180 min of recovery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in muscle performance in recovery from load carriage or conventional exercise with or without amino acid supplementation	4, 24, 48, and 72 hours post exercise

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine; 🇺🇸 Natick, Massachusetts, United States