Effects of oral adenosine-5'-triphosphate supplementation on athletic performance, skeletal muscle hypertrophy and recovery in resistance-trained men

Abstract

Background: Currently, there is a lack of studies examining the effects of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) supplementation utilizing a long-term, periodized resistance-training program (RT) in resistance-trained populations. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 12 weeks of 400 mg per day of oral ATP on muscular adaptations in trained individuals. We also sought to determine the effects of ATP on muscle protein breakdown, cortisol, and performance during an overreaching cycle.

Methods: The study was a 3-phase randomized, double-blind, and placebo- and diet-controlled intervention. Phase 1 was a periodized resistance-training program. Phase 2 consisted of a two week overreaching cycle in which volume and frequency were increased followed by a 2-week taper (Phase 3). Muscle mass, strength, and power were examined at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 to assess the chronic effects of ATP; assessment performance variables also occurred at the end of weeks 9 and 10, corresponding to the mid and endpoints of the overreaching cycle.

Results: There were time (p<0.001), and group x time effects for increased total body strength (+55.3 ± 6.0 kg ATP vs. + 22.4 ± 7.1 kg placebo, p<0.001); increased vertical jump power (+ 796 ± 75 ATP vs. 614 ± 52 watts placebo, p<0.001); and greater ultrasound determined muscle thickness (+4.9 ± 1.0 ATP vs. (2.5 ± 0.6 mm placebo, p<0.02) with ATP supplementation. During the overreaching cycle, there were group x time effects for strength and power, which decreased to a greater extent in the placebo group. Protein breakdown was also lower in the ATP group.

Conclusions: Our results suggest oral ATP supplementation may enhance muscular adaptations following 12-weeks of resistance training, and prevent decrements in performance following overreaching. No statistically or clinically significant changes in blood chemistry or hematology were observed.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01508338.

Figures

Figure 1

Effects of oral ATP supplementation on total strength and vertical jump power. (A) Percent change in total strength as the of sum of the 1-RM in bench press, squat, and deadlift in male participants undergoing 12 weeks of intense, periodized resistance training with an overreaching cycle during weeks 9 and 10. Participants were supplemented with either a Placebo - - ♦- - (n=10) or 400 mg ATP/d —∎— (n=11) during the 12-week training program. When compared with placebo supplementation total strength was increased with ATP supplementation over the 12 week study (‡ p < 0.001, Trt*time). During the overreaching cycle of the study, total strength decreased in the placebo-supplemented group relative to the ATP-supplemented group during weeks 9 and 10 († p < 0.001, Trt*time). Additionally, participants supplemented with ATP had greater mean strength at the 8, 9, 10, and 12 week time-points compared with placebo-supplemented participants (# p < 0.05). (B) Percent change in vertical jump power in male participants undergoing 12 weeks of intense, periodized resistance training with an overreaching cycle during weeks 9 and 10. Participants were supplemented with either a Placebo - - ♦- - (n=10) or 400 mg ATP /d —∎— (n=11) during the training program. ATP supplementation resulted in a greater increase in vertical jump power over the 12 week study (‡ p < 0.001, Trt*time). The increased intensity of the overreaching cycle during the study resulted in a significant decrease in vertical jump power in the placebo-supplemented participants compared with the ATP-supplemented participants during weeks 9 and 10 († p < 0.007). Additionally, ATP-supplemented participants had greater vertical jump power at 8, 9, 10, and 12 weeks of study compared with placebo-supplemented participants (# p < 0.05).