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The effect of an amino acid beverage on glucose response and glycogen replenishment after strenuous exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

We previously reported that an amino acid mixture (AA) was able to lower the glucose response to an oral glucose challenge in both rats and humans. Increased glucose uptake and glycogen storage in muscle might be associated with the faster blood glucose clearance. We therefore tested the effect of two different doses of AA provided with a carbohydrate supplement on blood glucose homeostasis and muscle glycogen replenishment in human subjects after strenuous aerobic exercise.

Methods

Ten subjects received a carbohydrate (1.2 g/kg body weight, CHO), CHO/HAA (CHO + 13 g AA), or CHO/LAA (CHO + 6.5 g AA) supplement immediately and 2 h after an intense cycling bout. Muscle biopsies were performed immediately and 4 h after exercise.

Results

The glucose responses for CHO/HAA and CHO/LAA during recovery were significantly lower than CHO, as was the glucose area under the curve (CHO/HAA 1259.9 ± 27.7, CHO/LAA 1251.5 ± 47.7, CHO 1376.8 ± 52.9 mmol/L 4 h, p < 0.05). Glycogen storage rate was significantly lower in CHO/HAA compared with CHO, while it did not differ significantly between CHO/LAA or CHO (CHO/HAA 15.4 ± 2.0, CHO/LAA 18.1 ± 2.0, CHO 21.5 ± 1.4 µmol/g wet muscle 4 h). CHO/HAA caused a significantly higher insulin response and a greater effect on mTOR and Akt/PKB phosphorylation compared with CHO. Phosphorylation of AS160 and glycogen synthase did not differ across treatments. Likewise, there were no differences in blood lactate across treatments.

Conclusions

The AA lowered the glucose response to a carbohydrate supplement after strenuous exercise. However, it was not effective in facilitating subsequent muscle glycogen storage.

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Abbreviations

2-DG:

2-Deoxyglucose

AA:

Amino acid mixture

AS160:

Akt substrate of 160 kDa

AUC:

Area under the curve

CV:

Coefficient of variance

GLUT4:

Glucose-transporter-4

GS:

Glycogen synthase

GSK-3:

Glycogen synthase kinase-3

HR:

Heart rate

KOH:

Potassium hydroxide

mTOR:

Mammalian target of rapamycin

NFDM:

Nonfat dry milk

OGTT:

Oral glucose tolerance test

PCA:

Perchloric acid

RPE:

Ratings of perceived exertion

SE:

Standard error

TTBS:

Tris-Tween-buffered saline

VO2max :

Maximum oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mina Rathbun, Benjamin Dessard, and Lynne Kammer for their excellent technical assistance. We would also like to thank the subjects who gave their valuable time to participate in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, Exercise Physiology and Metabolism Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Bei Wang, Zhenping Ding, Wanyi Wang, Jungyun Hwang, Yi-Hung Liao & John L. Ivy

  2. Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Science, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Bei Wang

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  1. Bei Wang
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  2. Zhenping Ding
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  3. Wanyi Wang
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  4. Jungyun Hwang
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Correspondence to Bei Wang.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Wang, B., Ding, Z., Wang, W. et al. The effect of an amino acid beverage on glucose response and glycogen replenishment after strenuous exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1283–1294 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3098-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3098-8

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