Exercise and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA)Requirements in Older Men

January 9, 2016 updated by: Peter Lemon, University of Western Ontario, Canada

Can Branched Chained Amino Acid Supplementation Combined With Strength-Training Minimize Sarcopenia in Older Men?

Likely, branched chain amino acid (BCAA) requirements are increased in older strength-trained (ST) individuals. If so, supplementation in this group will maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and minimize loss of muscle with age (sarcopenia).

Study Overview

Status

Suspended

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

We hypothesize that the dietary requirement for the branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in an older strength-trained (ST) population will be greater than the current recommendation (RDA). If so, a greater intake of BCAA together with ST is necessary if one aims to maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Currently, the BCAA requirement in the ST older population (55-65 y) is unknown. This is critical information especially given the value of ST for overall health.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

6

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B9
        • Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

55 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Recreationally active (~2-3 h/wk of physical activity) healthy older men (55-65 y)
  • A minimum of 4 month weight training experience

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have symptoms or take medication for respiratory disease
  • Have symptoms or take medication for cardiovascular disease
  • Have symptoms or take medication for metabolic disease
  • Have symptoms or take mediation for neuromuscular disease
  • Use heart rate or blood pressure medications
  • Use any medications with side effects of dizziness, lack of motor control, or slowed reaction time
  • Have an excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day)
  • Have any cardiovascular or neuromuscular limitations to exercise
  • Are allergic to milk or milk products
  • Use anabolic steroids or performance enhancing drugs

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Branched chain amino acid
Branched chain amino acid as food supplement
Dietary supplement: Branched chain amino acid
seven graded intakes of a BCAA (branched chain amino acid) mixture from 50 to 350 mg.kg-1.d-1 will be used to measure BCAA requirement
Other Names:
  • Ajinomoto branched chain amino acids
Behavioral: Strength training
Strength training will include a split-training program using all major muscle groups of the body on a three day "on", one day "off" protocol. Muscle areas targeted on each training day will be as follows: Day1: chest, shoulder, triceps; Day2: back, biceps; Day3: legs and calfs; Day4: will be a rest day. On Day5: this cycle will begin again. A combination of free weights and machines will be used for each training day. Progressive overload protocol will be applied where the load used by every participant will be adjusted bi-weekly based on their 70% of 1 repetition maximum (maximum weight that can be lifted only one time). Instruction will be provided for all exercises and professional trainers will oversee all training sessions.
Other Names:
  • weight training
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Weight training
Strength training will include a split-training program using all major muscle groups of the body on a three day "on", one day "off" protocol. Muscle areas targeted on each training day will be as follows: Day1: chest, shoulder, triceps; Day2: back, biceps; Day3: legs and calfs; Day4: will be a rest day. On Day5: this cycle will begin again. A combination of free weights and machines will be used for each training day. Progressive overload protocol will be applied where the load used by every participant will be adjusted bi-weekly based on their 70% of 1RM (repetition maximum). Instruction will be provided for all exercises and professional trainers will oversee all training sessions.
Dietary supplement: Branched chain amino acid
seven graded intakes of a BCAA (branched chain amino acid) mixture from 50 to 350 mg.kg-1.d-1 will be used to measure BCAA requirement
Other Names:
  • Ajinomoto branched chain amino acids
Behavioral: Strength training
Strength training will include a split-training program using all major muscle groups of the body on a three day "on", one day "off" protocol. Muscle areas targeted on each training day will be as follows: Day1: chest, shoulder, triceps; Day2: back, biceps; Day3: legs and calfs; Day4: will be a rest day. On Day5: this cycle will begin again. A combination of free weights and machines will be used for each training day. Progressive overload protocol will be applied where the load used by every participant will be adjusted bi-weekly based on their 70% of 1 repetition maximum (maximum weight that can be lifted only one time). Instruction will be provided for all exercises and professional trainers will oversee all training sessions.
Other Names:
  • weight training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Required Branched chain amino acid of older strength trained men
Time Frame: 12 months
Branched chain amino acid requirement will be measured in 55-65 years old strength trained men using indicator amino acid oxidation method
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle size
Time Frame: 12 months
cross-sectional measure of muscle size will be measured in all participants using standard procedures of magenetic resonance imaging
12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Western Ontario, Canada

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Peter Lemon, PhD, The University of Western Ontario
  • Study Director: Arash Bandegan, MSc., The University of Western Ontario

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2016

Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED)

December 1, 2016

Study Completion (ANTICIPATED)

December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 26, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 26, 2013

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

August 29, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

January 12, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 9, 2016

Last Verified

January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 002 (University of CT Health Center)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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