Leucine-protein supplemented recovery feeding enhances subsequent cycling performance in well-trained men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a practical leucine-protein, high-carbohydrate postexercise feeding regimen could improve recovery, as measured by subsequent cycling performance and mechanistic markers, relative to control feeding. In a crossover, 10 male cyclists performed 2- to 2.5-h interval training bouts on 3 consecutive evenings, ingesting either leucine-protein, high-carbohydrate nutrition (0.1/0.4/1.2/0.2 g·kg(-1)·h(-1); leucine, protein, carbohydrate, fat, respectively) or isocaloric control (0.06/1.6/0.2 g·kg(-1)·h(-1); protein, carbohydrate, fat, respectively) nutrition for 1.5 h postexercise. Throughout the experimental period diet was controlled, energy and macronutrient intake balanced, and protein intake clamped at 1.6 g·kg(-1)·day(-1). The alternate supplement was provided the next morning, thereby isolating the postexercise nutrition effect. Following 39 h of recovery, cyclists performed a repeat-sprint performance test. Postexercise leucine-protein ingestion improved mean sprint power by 2.5% (99% confidence limit, ±2.6%; p = 0.013) and reduced perceived overall tiredness during the sprints by 13% (90% confidence limit, ±9.2%), but perceptions of leg tiredness and soreness were unaffected. Before exercise, creatine-kinase concentration was lowered by 19% (90% confidence limits, ±18%), but lactate dehydrogenase and pressure-pain threshold were unaltered. There was a small reduction in anger (25% ± 18%), but other moods were unchanged. Plasma leucine (3-fold) and essential amino acid (47%) concentrations were elevated postexercise. Net nitrogen balance trended mildly negative in both conditions (mean ± SD: leucine-protein, -20 ± 46 mg·kg(-1) per 24 h; control, -25 ± 36 mg·kg(-1) per 24 h). The ingestion of a leucine-protein supplement along with other high-carbohydrate food following intense training on consecutive days enhances subsequent high-intensity endurance performance and may attenuate muscle membrane disruption in well-trained male cyclists.

Protein-leucine ingestion activates a regenerative inflammo-myogenic transcriptome in skeletal muscle following intense endurance exercise

“…The amplitude and breadth of the transcriptome response were dose responsive, suggesting the quantity of ingested protein and leucine could be mechanistically instrumental in muscle recovery processes. While much remains to be learnt about the benefit, harm, accentuating, or modulating nature of inflammatory processes in skeletal muscle and the effects of amino acids thereon, the present immune-myogenic molecular programming suggests protein-leucine feeding may complement increased myofibrillar protein synthesis and turnover to support a number of tissue processes responsible for functional recovery, remodeling, and improved subsequent performance phenotype under some conditions (42,47,48,60,66). These findings provide a platform for further research to characterize the functional dose of fed protein/amino acids on myeloid, satellite, and myofibril protein-level cellular molecular responses putatively involved in skeletal muscle regeneration and functional plasticity.…”

“…Total 90 min intake of whey protein, leucine, carbohydrate, and fat with the higher dose of protein-leucine (15LEU) was based on the quantity shown recently to enhance subsequent endurance performance (66) and comprised, respectively, 70/15/180/30 g. The 15LEU supplement was compared with 1) one-third of the protein-leucine quantity (23.3/5/ 180/30 g, 5LEU), which yielded a bioequivalent myofibrillar FSR (55), and 2) a nonnitrogenous, isocaloric control (0/0/274/30 g, CON). The rationale for added leucine was based first on the dogma that maximizing the leucine amino acid stimulus for postexercise muscle protein synthesis was critical for optimizing skeletal muscle recuperation (15,23), and second, to lower the total nitrogen load and risk of desensitization of amino acid-induced mechanisms regulating protein turnover (8).…”

“…muscle functional plasticity (23,57,71), work performance (16,23,32,56,60,66), and metabolic health (3,35,59). In humans, improved muscle performance following postexercise protein or amino acid ingestion was associated with increased myofibrillar protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) in the first 3-4 h postexercise (11,24) and evidence for reduced muscle damage 24 -48 h later (lower blood creatine kinase) (42,56,60,66).…”

“…In humans, improved muscle performance following postexercise protein or amino acid ingestion was associated with increased myofibrillar protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) in the first 3-4 h postexercise (11,24) and evidence for reduced muscle damage 24 -48 h later (lower blood creatine kinase) (42,56,60,66). Myofibrillar protein turnover may be an important component of muscle plasticity to exercise (23).…”

Increased Protein Intake in Military Special Operations

“…Leucine is often included in supplements for its established effects on the stimulation of translation-initiation factors of protein synthesis in conjunction with exercise (19). The addition of leucine to milk proteins in male cyclists improved sprint power on a repeat-sprint performance test (20). Furthermore, leucine/ protein ingestion reduced the overall perception of tiredness on the profile of a mood states questionnaire by 13% (20).…”