Does Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) Supplementation Attenuate Muscle Damage Markers and Soreness after Resistance Exercise in Trained Males? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Previous studies have reported the positive effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) supplementation on lowering plasma markers of muscle damage and subjective soreness after resistance exercise. However, a variety of factors can potentially moderate its efficacy. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the evidence regarding the effect of BCAAs supplementation on plasma muscle damage markers and soreness after resistance exercise in only trained males, by considering the plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). Randomized controlled trials were identified through a computerized literature search for the period 2010-2020. The pooled data were analyzed with the random-effects model and heterogeneity using I2. Cochrane Collaboration tools was used for the assessment of risk of bias. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. A positive effect was found for CK at <24, 24, and 48 h after exercise and for muscle soreness at <24 h only. However, the positive effect was not evident for plasma LDH at any follow-up time. Different outcomes for post-exercise responses may suggest that BCAAs supplementation can attenuate muscle damage and ameliorate muscle soreness after resistance exercise in trained males.

Protein supplementation enhances cerebral oxygenation during exercise in elite basketball players.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine cerebral oxygenation during high-intensity exercise in elite basketball players who consumed supplements with different whey protein contents after a short postexercise recovery to determine whether changing whey protein content in carbohydrate-based supplementation influences cerebral hemodynamic response when the supplement was consumed during a 2-h recovery after a 1-h exercise challenge. METHODS: This was a randomized, counterbalanced crossover study. Fifteen Division 1 collegiate basketball players (18-20 y) consumed 6.25 kcal/kg of either high-protein (36% protein in total calorie) or an isocaloric low-protein (12% protein in total calorie) control supplement in a carbohydrate-based drink immediately after a 1-h cycling (70% of maximal oxygen consumption [VO2max]). After a 2-h rest, the athletes were challenged on a cycloergometer at 80% VO2max. Blood perfusion (total hemoglobin) and oxygen saturation of frontal brain were continuously measured by near-infrared spectroscopy during the cycling. RESULTS: Before the cycloergometer test, high-protein supplementation increased peak insulin response and lowered glucose increases during the recovery compared with the low-protein trial. High-protein supplementation enhanced increases in cerebral oxygen saturation (P < 0.01) and attenuated increases in cerebral blood perfusion (total hemoglobin; P < 0.01) during the cycloergometer exercise; and resulted in a 16% longer cycling time (from 474 ± 49 s to 553 ± 78 s, P < 0.05), compared with the low-protein trial. CONCLUSION: Enhanced fatigue recovery after consumption of a high-protein supplement is associated with enhanced cerebral oxygenation against exercise challenge, which spares brain blood demand for periphery.

Ghrelin and motilin in the gastrointestinal system.

Human ghrelin and human motilin, belonging to the ghrelin/motilin-related peptide family, share 36% amino acid sequence identity, while the human ghrelin receptor exhibits a remarkable 50% overall identity with the human motilin receptor. In addition to their structural resemblance, ghrelin and motilin are the only two mammalian hormones known to decrease in the postprandial period. Ghrelin and motilin participate in initiating the migrating motor complex in the stomach, and stimulate gastrointestinal motility, accelerate gastric emptying, and induce "gastric hunger". In addition to modulating the release of growth hormone and gut motility, ghrelin plays a crucial role in the secretion and protection of the stomach and colon. Ghrelin mimetics and motilin agonists are currently being developed to reverse gastrointestinal hypomotility disorders. With additional appetite-enhancing, adiposity-promoting, and anti-inflammatory effects, ghrelin and rikkunshito (a traditional Japanese herb enhancing acyl ghrelin signaling) are superior to motilin in the treatment of cancer-related anorexia and cachexia, post-chemotherapy symptoms, rheumatological diseases, age-related frailty, as well as post-operative, septic, and post-burn gut ileus.

Efficacy of dioctahedral smectite in treating patients of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dioctahedral smectite (DS) is natural adsorbent clay useful in treating acute diarrhea. The aim of this study was to determine DS efficacy on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS in a phase III-, 8-week-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: The 104 patients who met the D-IBS Rome II criteria were randomized to receive either DS (n = 52) or placebo (n = 52) treatment for 8 weeks (three sachets daily). The primary efficacy endpoint was the changes of the visual analog scale (VAS) score of IBS overall disorder and pain/discomfort-related symptoms after treatment on days 28 and 56, respectively. Other outcome measures included improvement of bowel movement disorders. The therapeutic global response was assessed by the patients and investigators at each visit, as was drug safety. RESULTS: Both treatments diminished overall disorder at each visit (P < 0.01), with respect to primary efficacy. This effect was further observed in DS-treated patients on day 56 (P = 0.0167). Placebo had no effect on the VAS score of pain/discomfort at any visit, whereas DS improved this score on days 28 and 56, respectively (P < 0.05). DS and placebo similarly diminished bowel disorders at each visit; however, only DS improved abdominal bloating (P < 0.01). The global therapeutic responses evaluated by the patients and investigators were similarly distributed. The study drug was well tolerated during the 8-week period. CONCLUSION: DS seems acceptable to treat D-IBS patients, particularly for pain-related symptoms.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradicated therapy on water gastric emptying in patients with active duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It remains debatable if duodenal ulcer (DU) or Helicobacter pylori infection has a definite impact on human gastric emptying (GE). We explored the nature of water GE in active DU patients before and after ulcer healing and the influence of H. pylori eradication on GE. METHODS: A home made applied potential tomography (APT) was used to measure liquid GE. Twelve electrodes were placed in a circular array around the upper abdomen of studied subjects. After drinking 500 mL of ion-free water, paired electrodes injected electrical current and the remaining 10 electrodes recorded signals, one-by-one in a rotating order. Based on tomographical calculation, the serial changes of averaged signals from altered resistivities were constructed to display GE. Initially, 64 H. pylori infected active DU patients were enrolled. After APT measurement, one-week triple therapy (omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin) was dispensed. Patients were asked back to determine ulcer/H. pylori status and GE on a scheduled date 3 months later. Finally, 58 patients finished the trial with valid and readable GE data obtained. RESULTS: The ulcer healing and H. pylori eradicated rates were 91.4% and 82.8%, respectively. In general, liquid GE was prolonged in all DU patients at follow up. Of 48 eradicated patients, 35.4% manifested either enhanced or delayed GE before treatment, whereas only five (10.4%) had abnormal GE after treatment (P < 0.0001). In contrast, this characteristically normalized GE was not found in non-eradicated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Water GE of active DU patients ranges from enhanced to delayed, while an effective H. pylori triple therapy is useful not only for healing ulcers, but also for restoring abnormal GE.