Blood Ammonia and Lactate as Markers of Muscle Metabolites During Leg Press Exercise

Abstract

To examine whether blood lactate and ammonia concentrations can be used to estimate the functional state of the muscle contractile machinery with regard to muscle lactate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels during leg press exercise. Thirteen men (age, 34 ± 5 years; 1 repetition maximum leg press strength 199 ± 33 kg) performed either 5 sets of 10 repetitions to failure (5×10RF), or 10 sets of 5 repetitions not to failure (10×5RNF) with the same initial load (10RM) and interset rests (2 minutes) on 2 separate sessions in random order. Capillary blood samples were obtained before and during exercise and recovery. Six subjects underwent vastus lateralis muscle biopsies at rest, before the first set and after the final exercise set. The 5×10RF resulted in a significant and marked decrease in power output (37%), muscle ATP content (24%), and high levels of muscle lactate (25.0 ± 8.1 mmol·kg wet weight), blood lactate (10.3 ± 2.6 mmol·L), and blood ammonia (91.6 ± 40.5 μmol·L). During 10×5RNF no or minimal changes were observed. Significant correlations were found between: (a) blood ammonia and muscle ATP (r = -0.75), (b) changes in peak power output and blood ammonia (r = -0.87) and blood lactate (r = -0.84), and (c) blood and muscle lactate (r = 0.90). Blood lactate and ammonia concentrations can be used as extracellular markers for muscle lactate and ATP contents, respectively. The decline in mechanical power output can be used to indirectly estimate blood ammonia and lactate during leg press exercise.

Blood lactate level in Elite boy swimmers after lactate tolerance exercise test

“…The 5×10RF resulted in significant high levels of muscle lactate (25.0 ± 8.1 mmol/kg wet weight), blood lactate (10.3 ± 2.6 mmol/L), and blood ammonia (91.6 ± 40.5 μmol/L). During 10×5RNF no or minimal changes were observed (Gorostiaga et al, 2014).…”

“…The mean blood lactate concentration 7 min after the induction of acidosis during the lactate minimum test was 10.79±1.65 mm/l (Altimari et al, 2010). Gorostiaga et al (Gorostiaga et al, 2014) used leg press exercise to examine blood lactate and ammonia and muscle lactate. Thirteen men participated and 1 repetition maximum leg press strength 199 ± 33 kg performed either 5 sets of 10 repetitions to failure (5×10RF), or 10 sets of 5 repetitions not to failure (10×5RNF) with the same initial load (10RM) and interset rests (2 minutes) on 2 separate sessions in random order.…”

Blood ammonia and lactate responses to incremental exercise in highly-trained male sprinters and triathletes

“…Two groups of highly trained athletes practicing opposite sport disciplines were compared. Previous research has included physically active individuals but not competitive athletes [11,18,21]. Apart from the high level of sport performance, our sprinters and triathletes (all of whom are members of the Polish national team) were a very homogenous group with regards to their body build and composition, training status, training phase in the one-year cycle and, presumably, their genetic predispositions.…”

“…Gorostiaga et al [11] observed a significant correlation between the blood ammonia level and the muscle ATP, and concluded that blood ammonia could be used as an extracellular marker for muscle ATP content. Moreover, ammonia affects both the central nervous system and the muscle functioning [16,27]; thus, it is also considered as a biomarker for peripheral muscle fatigue [10].…”

“…Previous research has mainly focused on changes in the blood ammonia and lactate concentrations in response to repeated resistance exercise [11] and to prolonged constant moderate-intensity exercise [18,21] in physically active healthy subjects, but not in competitive athletes. Reports concerning the ammonia response in highly-trained athletes during incremental exercise until exhaustion and during recovery are lacking.…”