Abstract
To investigate the influence of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on chronic hypoxia-related loss of body mass and muscle loss, 16 subjects [age 35.8 (SD 5.6) years] participating in a 21-day trek at a mean altitude of 3,255 (SD 458) m, were divided in two age-, sex- and fitness-matched groups and took either a dietary supplementation of BCAA (5.76, 2.88 and 2.88 g per day of leucine, isoleucine and valine, respectively) or a placebo (PLAC) in a controlled double-blind manner. Daily energy intake at altitude decreased by 4% in both groups compared with sea level. After altitude exposure both groups showed a significant loss of body mass, 1.7% and 2.8% for BCAA and PLAC, respectively. Fat mass had decreased significantly by 11.7% for BCAA and 10.3% for PLAC, whereas BCAA showed a significantly increased lean mass of 1.5%, as opposed to no change in PLAC. Arm muscle cross-sectional area tended to increase in BCAA, whereas there was a significant decrease of 6.8% in PLAC (P
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 394-398 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 1992 |
Keywords
- Altitude
- Body composition
- Branched chain amino acid supplementation
- Hypoxia
- Loss of mass
- Nutrition
- Trekking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Physiology