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Sports Supplements That Actually Work

By James P. Meschino, DC, MS

In the course of daily practice, many young and even older athletes ask about the value of certain supplements in regards to enhancing athletic performance, muscle and strength gains, explosive power, etc.

Many supplements are more hype than science, as we all know; however, several supplements have impressive research to support their use as ergogenic aids. Sports supplements such as whey protein powder, sodium bicarbonate (or sodium citrate), creatine, L-glutamine and ornithine and arginine top the list of legitimate supplements for athletes to use in this regard.

Let's consider the synergistic effects of combining creatine, L-glutamine, ornithine and arginine to enhance athletic performance, accelerate strength, muscle and explosive power gains, and reduce risk of upper respiratory tract infections in athletes. Creatine supplementation is proven to increase strength, explosive performance, and lean mass in athletes. Creatine also preserves strength as athletes age, keeping them more functional. It has even been shown to improve strength and functionality in patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in patients with chronic heart failure.

L-glutamine has been shown to decrease muscle catabolism during workouts and reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in athletes undergoing heavy training. L-glutamine is the primary fuel for many immune cells.

Supplementation with arginine and ornithine has been shown to boost release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, and thus accelerate lean mass development in young athletes and preserve lean mass in individuals over age 40, who typically show an age-related drop-off in growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) blood concentrations.

Micronized Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine is an amino acid stored in muscle in the form of creatine phosphate. During explosive or intensive exercise, creatine phosphate is broken down by a specific enzyme to yield creatine plus phosphate plus free energy. The free energy released from the breakdown of creatine phosphate is used to regenerate ATP, which is the fuel that powers muscle contraction.^1-2

A number of studies have demonstrated that short-term creatine supplementation increases creatine phosphate stores in skeletal muscle by 10-40 percent.³ In combination with proper training, creatine supplementation leads to an increase in muscle mass, which is thought to occur from increased protein synthesis as the muscle lays down an increased number of contractile myofilaments (protein bands that contract and generate force). Increased muscular fluid retention may also participate in muscle volume gains with creatine use.^4-7

It also appears that creatine supplementation may allow athletes to train harder (due to increased available energy for muscle concentration), which promotes strength gains and increases muscle size due to hypertrophy (larger muscle fiber size).^2-3 Several studies have shown that creatine supplementation improves performance in repeated bouts of high-intensity strength work and repeated sprints, which are primary determinants and requirements for many sports.^8-18

In short, substantial evidence suggests creatine supplementation can increase lean body mass, muscular strength, and sprint power. As an anti-aging consideration, creatine supplementation has also been shown to help preserve strength as individuals age, and is used successfully as an adjunct in the management of various neuromuscular diseases and heart failure.^19-24

The established protocol for creatine supplementation used by athletes involves a loading dosage of 20-25 grams per day for the first 5-7 days. Typically, an athlete will mix a heaping teaspoon of creatine monohydrate crystals into a glass of juice to obtain about 5 grams of creatine. During the loading phase, the athlete does this on four or five occasions throughout the day to achieve an intake of 20-25 grams. After the loading phase is completed, the maintenance daily dosage is usually five to 10 grams per day.

Supplementation with creatine monohydrate (best absorbed in the micronized form) has been shown to be the preferred form of creatine supplementation, as it dissolves very well in a glass of juice (e.g., grape juice; no residue at bottom of glass) and is highly absorbable within the gut.

L-Glutamine

L-glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the bloodstream and the body. Glutamine is also a main anti-catabolic agent in muscle, which when supplemented, may help preserve muscle tissue (preventing its breakdown) during and after exercise. The heavier one trains, the greater the stress on muscle and the greater the breakdown (catabolism) of muscle mass, as the muscles release glutamine into the bloodstream.²⁵

During and following exercise or trauma, large amounts of alanine and glutamine are released from muscle. In turn, alanine and glutamine travel through the bloodstream to the liver where they can be used to form glucose and glycogen. Glutamine supplementation has been shown to maintain muscle mass in catabolic patients.²⁶ Thus, athletes often supplement with L-glutamine (1,000-2,000 mg per day) to decrease muscle breakdown during training.³⁰

Glutamine supplementation in endurance athletes has been shown to reduce the incidence of infections in this population, members of which are known to have their immune system suppressed by excess training of this nature. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed that glutamine supplementation at a dose of 5 grams, taken after the end of exercise in 151 endurance athletes, resulted in a significantly lower incidence of infections (19 percent) compared to the placebo group (51 percent) during the study period.²⁷

It has been suggested that the immune system suppression associated with endurance exercise may be due in part to reduction in glutamine that results from intensive training. Another study, using the same protocol, demonstrated that 81 percent of athletes taking glutamine had no subsequent infection during the study period compared to 49 percent in the placebo group.²⁸

Arginine and Ornithine

Arginine and ornithine are amino acids that have been shown to increase the release of growth hormone (growth hormone secretagogues) when supplemented at a dose of 500 mg each, twice per day, five times per week. These initial studies were performed on young athletes. Acting as growth hormone secretagogues, these two amino acids increase growth hormone release, which, in turn, increases synthesis and release of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) from the liver. It is IGF-1 that exerts the anabolic and other physiological effects attributed to growth hormone on the tissues of the body.

As we age, growth hormone and IGF-1 levels decline, facilitating breakdown of lean mass and bone mass. Supplementation with arginine and supplementation with arginine and ornithine can help reverse this trend, elevating and preserving IGF-1 levels. This has important anti-aging effects on the musculoskeletal system. If the individual is performing resistance training and consuming adequate protein, then arginine and ornithine supplementation can help enhance lean mass and strength gains, even in older individuals. This helps to keep individuals more functional as they age, elevates their metabolism, and helps to reduce body fat.

L-arginine is also converted to nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and feeds muscles additional nutrients and oxygen. This effect has also been shown to enhance athletic performance.^29-30

Natural Performance Enhancement

Supplementation with a product that combines creatine monohydrate (ideally micronized creatine), L-glutamine, and arginine and ornithine at scientifically proven dosages, provides athletes young and old with legitimate ergogenic and anti-aging effects in regards to enhanced muscle, lean mass, strength and explosive power gains, and immune system support. Stirred into a glass of juice (4-6 ounces) on an empty stomach between meals, these nutrients have proven performance effects in young and older athletes. They can help preserve functional ability as individuals age (more strength and lean mass in older subjects) and should also be used in the adjunctive management of many neurodegenerative conditions. The same is true for heart-failure patients, who can use this strategy under the supervision and monitoring of their physician or medical specialist.

References

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