[Purpose] This study was conducted to understand the impacts of BCAA (branched-chain
amino acid) and glutamine supplementation on the degree of blood fatigue factor
stimulation and cytokines along with performance of exercise at the maximal intensity.
[Subjects] Five male juvenile elite rowing athletes participated in this study as the
subjects; they took 3 tests and received placebo supplementation (PS), BCAA
supplementation (BS), and glutamine supplementation (GS). [Methods] The exercise applied
in the tests was 2,000 m of rowing at the maximal intensity using an indoor rowing
machine, and blood samples were collected 3 times, while resting, at the end of exercise,
and after 30 min of recovery, to analyze the blood fatigue factors (lactate, phosphorous,
ammonia, creatine kinase (CK)) and blood cytokines (IL (interleukin)-6, 8, 15). [Results]
The results of the analysis showed that the levels of blood phosphorous in the BS and GS
groups at the recovery stage were decreased significantly compared with at the end of
exercise, and the level of CK appeared lower in the GS group alone at recovery stage than
at the end of exercise. The level of blood IL-15 in the PS and BS groups appeared higher
at the end of exercise compared with the resting stage. [Conclusion] It seemed that
glutamine supplementation had a positive effect on the decrease in fatigue factor
stimulation at the recovery stage after maximal intensity exercise compared with
supplementation with the placebo or BCAA. Besides, pre-exercise glutamine supplementation
seemed to help enhance immune function and the defensive inflammatory reaction.
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