EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATION OF BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINO-ACIDS VS GLUCOSE DURING ACUTE EXERCISE IN THE RAT

Effects of administration of branched-chain amino acids vs. glucose du ring acute exercise in the rat. PHYSIOL BEHAV 55(3) 523-526, 1994.-Sev eral studies of the relationship of food intake to physical exercise s trongly suggest that the two are closely linked. Serotonin transmissio n seems to be particularly important in the regulation of both appetit e and central fatigue. Thus, the ingestion of branched-chain amino aci ds has been reported to decrease serotonin production and to improve p hysical performance. In the present study, the effects of three treatm ents (water, glucose, and branched-chain amino acids) were compared in 34 male Wistar rats. Maximal exercise duration, blood insulin, and gl ucose levels were measured. Results showed that following the ingestio n of branched-chain amino acids, physical performance is lower and blo od insulin level is higher than after glucose administration.