Bb. Yaspelkis et Jl. Ivy, The effect of a carbohydrate-arginine supplement on postexercise carbohydrate metabolism, INT J SP NU, 9(3), 1999, pp. 241-250
The effect of a carbohydrate-arginine supplement on postexercise muscle gly
cogen 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 carbo
hydrate (CHO) supplement (1 g carbohydrate/kg body weight) or a carbohydrat
e-arginine (CHO/AA) supplement (1 g carbohydrate/kg body mass and 0.08 g ar
ginine-hydrochloride/kg body weight). No difference in rate of glycogen sto
rage 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 o
xidation 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 therefor
e may increase the availability of glucose for muscle glycogen storage duri
ng recovery.