Twelve Weeks of Nitrate, Beta-Alanine, or Combined Treatment in NCAA Division III Male Soccer Players

In a sport of long duration, such as soccer, with many high-intensity bouts interspersed within the match, enhancing performance to last the duration of the match and maintain high levels of intensity is paramount. Thus, with proper nutrition and physical preparation, supplements such as beta-alanine (due to its intracellular buffering capacity) and nitrate (due to its vasodilatory and ergogenic effects in endurance exercise) may have value in this population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of chronic supplementation with nitrate, beta-alanine, or combined treatment in NCAA Division III male soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-two NCAA Division III male soccer players (age: 19.1 ± 1.1yrs; mass: 74.8 ± 8.0kg; body fat: 13.6 ± 4.0%) were randomly assigned into one of four groups: nitrate plus placebo (NIT), beta-alanine plus placebo (BA), placebo (PLA), or active treatments (ACT) and participated in this 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study. At pre-intervention testing, participants completed body composition measures, VO2 max, 30-second Wingate test on day one, and 40-yard dash and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery: Level 2 (YOYOIR2) on day two and testing sessions were repeated at 6- and 12-weeks post training and supplementation. A 4x3 repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the data with a-priori p value set at ≤0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant time effect for the following variables indicating that the training protocol induced performance adaptations: VO2 max (p = 0.0), Wingate peak power and mean power (p = 0.04; p = 0.006), 40-yard dash (p = 0.003), and YOYOIR2 (p = 0.0). Change in performance over time (% change) for VO2 max was NIT: 9%, BA: 7%, ACT: 12% vs PLA: 8%. Wingate mean power % change was NIT: 17%, BA: 6%, ACT: 4% vs PLA: 5%. Wingate peak power % change was NIT: 10%, BA: 11%, ACT: 10% vs PLA: 9%. YOYOIR2 % change was NIT: 48%, BA: 54%, ACT: 74% vs PLA: 10%. Despite this, there were no significant group by time effects for any variables. CONCLUSION: Although further research is warranted, addition of these supplements may be beneficial to soccer players

The effects of combined creatine monohydrate supplementation and resistance training on body composition, muscle strength, and markers of satellite cell activity in older males.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-125).Aging is associated with gradual loss of muscle mass, termed sarcopenia, which often leads to progressive disability and loss of independence. Though resistance exercise has shown to be an effective method at reducing the rate of age-related muscle loss and decline in force output; when combined with well known muscle building agents [such as creatine monohydrate (CrM)], these training-induced improvements are enhanced. To explore this idea further, a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 20 males aged between 55-75 yrs at Baylor University, Waco TX. Particpants were randomly assigned to consume either CrM [20g/d CrM + 5g Carbohydrate (CHO) x 7 days, then 5g/d CrM +5g CHO x 77 days] or carbohydrate placebo (20g/d CHO x 7 days, then 5g/d CHO x 77 days) while participating in a high intensity resistance training program (3 sets x 10 repetitions at 75% of 1RM), 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Testing sessions were complete prior to, 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks post resistance training and supplementation. Each testing session included body composition measurement as determined by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), muscle strength measurement as determined by 1 repetition maximum (RM) on leg press and bench press, blood collection and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy. The blood serum was analyzed for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), free testosterone and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the muscle tissue for phophorylated mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met), myogenic regulatory factors (MyoD, myogenin, Myf-5, MRF-4), and total myofibrillar protein. A significant time effect was observed for 1RM bench press (p=0.016), leg press (p<0.05), body mass (p=0.030) and fat free mass (p=0.005), HGF (p<0.001), phosphorylated c-Met concentration (p=0.008), myogenic regulatory factors Myf-5 (p<0.001) and myogenin (p<0.001), and total myofibrillar protein (p=0.005). A significant group (p=0.040) and group by time interaction (p=0.023) was revealed for MRF-4, suggesting CrM supplementation significantly increased MRF-4 following 12 weeks of resistance training. Notwithstanding, results from the current study suggest that CrM supplementation, when combined with 12-weeks of high intensity resistance training does not enhance body composition, muscle strength, and biochemical mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle hypertrophy compared to resistance training alone.by Brian Brabham.Ph.D