Post-exercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids. Tipton, Kevin D., Arny A. Ferrando, Stuart M. Phillips, David Doyle, Jr., and Robert R. Wolfe. Metabolism Unit, Shriners Burns Institute and Departments of Surgery and Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
APStracts 5:0272E, 1998.
We examined the response of net muscle protein synthesis to ingestion of amino acids following an bout of resistance exercise. A primed, constant infusion of ring-[2H5]phenylalanine was used to measure net muscle protein balance in three male and three female volunteers on three occasions. Subjects consumed, in random order, one L of: 1) a mixed amino acid (40g) solution (MAA), 2) an essential amino acid (40g) solution (EAA), and 3) a placebo solution (PLA). Arterial amino acid concentrations increased [sim]150-640% above baseline during ingestion of MAA and EAA. Net muscle protein balance was significantly (p<0.05) increased from negative during PLA (-50_23 nmol(min -1(100mL leg volume-1 ) to positive during MAA (17_13 nmol(min -1(100mL leg volume-1 ) and EAA (29_14 nmol(min -1(100mL leg volume-1). Since net balance was similar for MAA and EAA, it does not appear necessary to include nonessential amino acids in a formulation designed to elicit an anabolic response from muscle following exercise. We conclude that ingestion of oral essential amino acids results in a change from net muscle protein degradation to net muscle protein synthesis following heavy resistance exercise in humans similar to that seen when the amino acids were infused.

Received 18 August 1998; accepted in final form 30 November 1998.
APS Manuscript Number E378-8.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Endocrinol. Metab.).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1998 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 18 December 1998