Publication:

補充支鏈胺基酸、精胺酸、瓜胺酸及低醣高脂飲食對運動員體能及感覺認知能力的影響

高強度間歇訓練(HIIT)已經廣泛應用於跑步，騎自行車，團隊運動及游泳等多種運動項目，大多數游泳賽項僅持續130秒或更少時間，需要無氧系統提供大量能量。因此，提升HIIT在游泳訓練中的效果，有助於提升訓練成效。本研究群已發現，補充支鏈胺基酸、精氨酸和瓜氨酸可以預防中樞疲勞以及改善各種運動環境中認知和運動相關能力的下降。此外，也發現運動員在連續二天的運動中補充支鏈胺基酸、精氨酸和瓜氨酸可改善間歇性衝刺的表現。因此，本研究的目的是探討補充支鏈胺基酸、精氨酸和瓜氨酸對高強度間歇游泳運動的急性效應。本研究採用雙盲，安慰劑對照，隨機交叉設計。每個受試者以隨機順序完成補充氨基酸和安慰劑後進行50公尺8趟的高強度間歇性游泳測驗，並分開至少7天的廓清期。結果顯示，補充氨基酸組的50公尺平均游泳時間顯著更快，運動前後的血漿支鏈胺基酸濃度也顯著高於安慰劑組。補充氨基酸組在運動前後的色氨酸/支鏈胺基酸比率顯著降低。兩組的血氨、尿素、非游離脂肪酸和一氧化氮的血漿濃度結果是相似的。在高強度間歇游泳測試中色氨酸/支鏈氨基酸比率降低也反映在運動後的自覺量表。這表示補充支氨基酸組的中樞疲勞得到緩解。HIIT是游泳訓練中常用的方法，本研究結果顯示，補充支鏈胺基酸、精氨酸和瓜氨酸可緩解中樞疲勞而提升間歇性高強度游泳的表現。而支鏈胺基酸和精氨酸對其他可能參與中樞疲勞的神經傳導物質如多巴胺和兒茶酚胺的作用，未來值得進一步探討。

High-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) has been widely used in many sports such as running, cycling, team sports, and swimming. Most swimming events last 130 sec or less, which require significant contribution of anaerobic energy production. Therefore, to improve the performance in HIIT would lead to more effective swimming training. Our group has shown that a combined supplementation of BCAA, arginine, and citrulline can prevent central fatigue and the associated decline in cognitive and motor functions in various sport settings. In addition, the supplementation improved performance in intermittent sprints on the second consecutive days of exercise in athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the acute effect of BCAA, arginine and citrulline supplementation on high-intensity intermittent swimming performance. This study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over design. Each subject completed amino acids (AA) and placebo (PL) trials with 8 x 50 m high-intensity intermittent swimming test in a random order, separated by a wash-out period of at least 7 days. The results showed that the average 50 m swimming time was significantly faster in the AA trial. The AA trial showed significantly higher plasma BCAA concentrations before and after exercise than those in the PL trial. The AA trial had significantly lower tryptophan/BCAA ratio before and after exercise. The 2 trials showed similar plasma concentrations of NH3, urea, NEFA, and NOx concentrations. The decreased tryptophan/BCAA ratio resulted in similar post-exercise RPE while maintaining a high-intensity repeated swimming test. It indicated that central fatigue was alleviated in the AA trial. This study suggested that supplementation of BCAA, arginine, and citrulline could improve the performance in intermittent high-intensity swimming, possibly by alleviating central fatigue. The suppressed serotonin production, resulted from decreased tryptophan/BCAA ratio may play a role in reducing central fatigue. HIIT is a common method in swimming training. Therefore, the supplementation may lead to higher training intensity and competition performance. The effect of BCAA and arginine on other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and catecholamines warrants further investigation.