Glycine propionyl-L-carnitine increases plasma nitrate/nitrite in resistance trained men

Richard J Bloomer, Webb A Smith, Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman, Richard J Bloomer, Webb A Smith, Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman

Abstract

: We have recently demonstrated that oral intake of glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC) increases plasma nitrate/nitrite (NOx), a surrogate measure of nitric oxide production. However, these findings were observed at rest, and in previously sedentary subjects.

Purpose: In the present study, we sought to determine the impact of oral GPLC on plasma NOx at rest and in response to a period of reactive hyperemia in resistance trained men.

Methods: Using a double blind, crossover design, 15 healthy men (24 +/- 4 years) were assigned to GPLC (3 g/d PLC + 1044 mg glycine) and a placebo in random order, for a four-week period, with a two-week washout between condition assignment. Blood samples were taken from subjects at rest and at 0, 3, and 10 minutes following an ischemia-reperfusion protocol (six minutes of upper arm cuff occlusion at 200 mmHg followed by rapid reperfusion with cuff removal). Blood samples were taken from a forearm vein from the same arm used for the protocol and analyzed for total nitrate/nitrite. Data are presented as mean +/- SEM.

Results: A condition main effect (p = 0.0008) was noted for NOx, with higher values in subjects when using GPLC (45.6 +/- 2.8 mumol.L-1) compared to placebo (34.9 +/- 1.2 mumol.L-1). No time main effect was noted (p = 0.7099), although values increased approximately 12% from rest (37.7 +/- 2.7 mumol.L-1) to a peak at 10 minutes post protocol (42.3 +/- 3.3 mumol.L-1). The interaction effect was not significant (p = 0.8809), although paired time contrasts revealed higher values for GPLC compared to placebo at 3 (48.2 +/- 6.7 vs. 34.9 +/- 2.4 mumol.L-1; p = 0.033) and 10 (48.8 +/- 5.9 vs. 35.7 +/- 2.1 mumol.L-1; p = 0.036) minutes post protocol, with non-statistically significant differences noted at rest (41.8 +/- 4.5 vs. 33.6 +/- 2.5 mumol.L-1; p = 0.189) and at 0 minutes (43.6 +/- 5.1 vs. 35.4 +/- 2.7 mumol.L-1; p = 0.187) post protocol. An analysis by subject (collapsed across time) indicated that 11 of the 15 subjects experienced an increase in NOx with GPLC treatment.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that short-term oral GPLC supplementation can increase NOx in resistance trained men. However, as with many dietary supplements, there exist both "responders" and "non-responders" to treatment. Future work may focus on the mechanisms for the discrepancy in response to GPLC supplementation for purposes of NOx elevation.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Plasma nitrate/nitrite before and after an ischemia-reperfusion protocol in 15 resistance trained men supplemented with GPLC and placebo in a cross-over design. Note: Condition main effect (p = 0.0008); No time main effect (p = 0.7099) or interaction effect (p = 0.8809); paired time contrasts at 3 (p = 0.033) and 10 (p = 0.036) minutes post protocol; rest (p = 0.189) and 0 (p = 0.187) minutes post protocol; % change from rest presented for each time post protocol. Values are mean ± SEM.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Individual subject data for plasma nitrate/nitrite before and after an ischemia-reperfusion protocol in 15 resistance trained men supplemented with GPLC and placebo in a cross-over design. Note: NOx data collapsed over time.

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