The effect of a carbohydrate--arginine supplement on postexercise carbohydrate metabolism

Int J Sport Nutr. 1999 Sep;9(3):241-50. doi: 10.1123/ijsn.9.3.241.

Abstract

The effect of a carbohydrate-arginine supplement on postexercise muscle glycogen storage was investigated. Twelve well-trained cyclists rode for 2 hr on two separate occasions to deplete their muscle glycogen stores. At 0, 1, 2, and 3 hr after each exercise bout, the subjects ingested either a carbohydrate (CHO) supplement (1 g carbohydrate/kg body weight) or a carbohydrate-arginine (CHO/AA) supplement (1 g carbohydrate/kg body mass and 0.08 g arginine-hydrochloride/kg body weight). No difference in rate of glycogen storage was found between the CHO/AA and CHO treatments, although significance was approached. There were also no differences in plasma glucose, insulin, or blood lactate responses between treatments. Postexercise carbohydrate oxidation during the CHO/AA treatment was significantly reduced compared to the CHO treatment. These results suggest that the addition of arginine to a CHO supplement reduces the rate of CHO oxidation postexercise and therefore may increase the availability of glucose for muscle glycogen storage during recovery.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arginine / administration & dosage*
  • Bicycling
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Glycogen / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Kinetics
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Polysaccharides / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Insulin
  • Polysaccharides
  • Lactic Acid
  • maltodextrin
  • Glycogen
  • Arginine