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Intramuscular adaptations to eccentric exercise and antioxidant supplementation

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Abstract

Prophylactic supplementation of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was studied for physiological and cellular changes in skeletal muscle after eccentric muscle contractions. Thirty healthy, active males (20.0 ± 1.8 years, 160 ± 7.1 cm, 76.1 ± 17.0 kg) ingested for 14 days either 1,800 mg of NAC, 1,800 mg of EGCG, or 1,000 mg of fiber (glucomannan) placebo (PLC) in a double blind, prophylactic fashion. Subjects completed one eccentric exercise bout (100 repetitions at 30°/s) using the dominant knee extensors. Strength and soreness were assessed, and blood and muscle samples obtained before and 6, 24, 48, and 72 h with no muscle sample being collected at 72 h. Separate mixed factorial repeated measures ANOVA (P < 0.05) were used for all statistical analysis. All groups experienced significantly reduced peak torque production after 6 and 24 h, increased soreness at all time points from baseline [with even greater soreness levels 24 h after exercise in PLC when compared to EGCG and NAC (P < 0.05)], increased lactate dehydrogenase at 6 h, and increased creatine kinase 6, 24 and 48 h after exercise. No significant group × time interaction effects were found for serum cortisol, neutrophil counts, and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio; although, all values experienced significant changes 6 h after exercise (P < 0.05), but at no other time points. At 48 h after the exercise bout the Neu:Lym ratio in EGCG was significantly less than NAC (P < 0.05), whereas there was a trend (P = 0.08) for the EGCG values to be less when compared to PLC at this time point. Markers of intramuscular mitochondrial and cytosolic apoptosis were assessed (e.g., bax, bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase-3 content/enzyme activity, and total DNA content). Significant increases (P < 0.05) in muscle levels of bax and bcl-2 were observed in all groups with no significant differences between groups, whereas no changes (P > 0.05) were reported for cytochrome C, caspase-3 content, caspase-3 enzyme activity, and total DNA. Caspase-3 enzyme activity was significantly greater in all groups 48 h after exercise when compared to baseline (P < 0.05) and 6 h (P < 0.05) after exercise. An eccentric bout of muscle contractions appears to significantly increase muscle damage, markers of mitochondrial apoptosis, apoptotic enzyme activity, and whole-blood cell markers of inflammation with no changes in oxidative stress. While soreness ratings were blunted in the two supplementation groups 24 h after exercise when compared to PLC values, more research is needed to determine the potential impact of EGCG and NAC supplementation on changes related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and eccentric exercise.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the subjects that participated in this study. In addition, other individuals helped in various capacities through collection of the data and include Travis Harvey, PhD, Mike Roberts, MS, Colin Wilborn, PhD, and Mike Iosia, PhD as their help and support was appreciated. Partial funding for this study was provided by the National Strength and Conditioning Association through a GNC Nutritional Research Grant, a Baylor University Faculty Research Award for Darryn Willoughby, PhD and HHPR a graduate student research award and indirect costs provided by grants awarded to Richard Kreider, PhD through the Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory while at Baylor University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Exercise Science Department, University of Oklahoma, 1401 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Chad M. Kerksick

  2. Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA

    Chad M. Kerksick

  3. Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Richard B. Kreider

  4. Exercise and Biochemical Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Darryn S. Willoughby

  5. Institute for Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Darryn S. Willoughby

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  1. Chad M. Kerksick
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Correspondence to Darryn S. Willoughby.

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Kerksick, C.M., Kreider, R.B. & Willoughby, D.S. Intramuscular adaptations to eccentric exercise and antioxidant supplementation. Amino Acids 39, 219–232 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-009-0432-7

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