The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction With and Without Arginine on Physical Performance and Growth Hormone

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Strength Outcomes; Growth Hormone; Arginine; Blood Flow Restriction
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Placebo Pill; Procedure: BFR; Dietary Supplement: Arginine

• Registration Number: NCT04079010
• Lead Sponsor: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Brief Summary

The current study will investigate the effects of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training and L-arginine supplementation on recreationally trained female participants. In particular, it will compare performance outcomes and blood markers among two intervention groups (BFR and BFR+Arg) and a control group (CON).

Detailed Description

The current study will investigate the effects of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training and L-arginine supplementation on recreationally trained female participants. In particular, it will compare performance outcomes and blood markers among two intervention groups (BFR and BFR+Arg) and a control group (CON). All group will participate in the same training regimen. The control group will train and ingest a placebo pill. The BFR group will train with BFR and ingest a placebo pill, and the BFR+Arg group will train with BFR and ingest an L-arginine pill. All placebo pills will be Maltodextrin. The performance outcome is leg press 1RM, while the blood markers are growth hormone (GH) and cortisol. This analysis will provide insight as to whether or not L-arginine supplementation in addition to blood flow restriction training improves performance and muscle hypertrophy measure more than blood flow restriction training alone.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-08-29
• Study Start: 2019-09-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-09-04
• Study First Posted: 2019-09-06
• Primary Completion: 2019-11-25
• Study Completion: 2019-11-25
• Status Verified: 2020-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-03-31
• Last Update Posted: 2020-04-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Signed informed consent
• PAR-Q form complete and without contraindications
• Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5-29.9 kg/m2
• Stable body weight prior to participation in the study (fluctuation not exceeding 10 lbs. within the past 6 months
• Agreement not to change current diet or exercise program (other than adding the program for the purpose of this study)

Exclusion Criteria

• Any diagnosed orthopedic condition that prevents exercise
• BMI > 29.9 kg/m2 or < 18.5 kg/m2
• Affirmative answer to any of the questions presented on the PAR-Q form
• Are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study
• Currently taking blood pressure medication

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control	Placebo Pill	Participants will adhere to resistance training protocol.
BFR (blood flow restriction), plus Arginine	BFR	Participants will adhere to resistance training protocol, apply a blood flow restriction cuff during resistance training, and will take the clinically safe dose of arginine prior to training sessions.
BFR (blood flow restriction)	BFR	Participants will adhere to resistance training protocol, while also applying a blood flow restriction cuff during resistance training.
BFR (blood flow restriction)	Placebo Pill	Participants will adhere to resistance training protocol, while also applying a blood flow restriction cuff during resistance training.
BFR (blood flow restriction), plus Arginine	Arginine	Participants will adhere to resistance training protocol, apply a blood flow restriction cuff during resistance training, and will take the clinically safe dose of arginine prior to training sessions.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Strength	Baseline measurements will be obtained during Week 0, then measurements will be taken at Week 4 and Week 8 to determine the amount of change in participant's strength at those particular time points compared to baseline	1 RM (rep-max) will be utilized to measure lower extremity strength

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Growth Factor	Measured at Week 0, Week 4, and Week 8 at the following intervals: prior to supplement, 15 and 30 minutes post-supplementation (before exercise), and 90 minutes post-supplementation (after exercise)	Growth Hormone will be assessed by blood draw in an acute response design

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; 🇺🇸 Belton, Texas, United States