Changes in plasma concentration of kynurenine following intake of branched-chain amino acids are not caused by alterations in muscle kynurenine metabolism.

Administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) has been suggested to enhance mitochondrial biogenesis, including levels of PGC-1α, which may, in turn, alter kynurenine metabolism. Ten healthy subjects performed 60 min of dynamic one-leg exercise at ∼70% of Wmax on two occasions. They were in random order supplied either a mixture of BCAA or flavored water (placebo) during the experiment. Blood samples were collected during exercise and recovery, and muscle biopsies were taken from both legs before, after, and 90 and 180 min following exercise. Ingestion of BCAA doubled their concentration in both plasma and muscle while causing a 30%-40% reduction (P < 0.05 vs. placebo) in levels of aromatic amino acids in both resting and exercising muscle during 3-h recovery period. The muscle concentration of kynurenine decreased by 25% (P < 0.05) during recovery, similar in both resting and exercising leg and with both supplements, although plasma concentration of kynurenine during recovery was 10% lower (P < 0.05) when BCAA were ingested. Ingestion of BCAA reduced the plasma concentration of kynurenic acid by 60% (P < 0.01) during exercise and recovery, whereas the level remained unchanged with placebo. Exercise induced a three- to fourfold increase (P < 0.05) in muscle content of PGC-1α1 mRNA after 90 min of recovery under both conditions, whereas levels of KAT4 mRNA and protein were unaffected by exercise or supplement. In conclusion, the reduction of plasma levels of kynurenine and kynurenic acid caused by BCAA were not associated with any changes in the level of muscle kynurenine, suggesting that kynurenine metabolism was altered in tissues other than muscle.

Effect of Repeated Whole Blood Donations on Aerobic Capacity and Hemoglobin Mass in Moderately Trained Male Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to investigate the impact of three whole blood donations on endurance capacity and hematological parameters and to determine the duration to fully recover initial endurance capacity and hematological parameters after each donation. METHODS: Twenty-four moderately trained subjects were randomly divided in a donation (n = 16) and a placebo (n = 8) group. Each of the three donations was interspersed by 3 months, and the recovery of endurance capacity and hematological parameters was monitored up to 1 month after donation. RESULTS: Maximal power output, peak oxygen consumption, and hemoglobin mass decreased (p < 0.001) up to 4 weeks after a single blood donation with a maximal decrease of 4, 10, and 7%, respectively. Hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, ferritin, and red blood cell count (RBC), all key hematological parameters for oxygen transport, were lowered by a single donation (p < 0.001) and cumulatively further affected by the repetition of the donations (p < 0.001). The maximal decrease after a blood donation was 11% for hematocrit, 10% for hemoglobin concentration, 50% for ferritin, and 12% for RBC (p < 0.001). Maximal power output cumulatively increased in the placebo group as the maximal exercise tests were repeated (p < 0.001), which indicates positive training adaptations. This increase in maximal power output over the whole duration of the study was not observed in the donation group. CONCLUSIONS: Maximal, but not submaximal, endurance capacity was altered after blood donation in moderately trained people and the expected increase in capacity after multiple maximal exercise tests was not present when repeating whole blood donations.