Effects of protein and amino acid supplementation on muscle protein metabolism in relation to exercise

Abstract

Exercise promotes protein and amino acid breakdown in skeletal muscle. Proper nutrient intake in relation to exercise is thus important to maintain or build up skeletal muscle. It has been demonstrated that supplementation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) before exercise has beneficial effects on skeletal muscle, such as decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage and soreness. Protein synthesis in skeletal muscle is enhanced after exercise, and proper timing of supplementation of protein and amino acids for effectively stimulating muscle protein synthesis is herein discussed. Treatment of elderly individuals with exercise and nutrient supplementation is also demonstrated to have efficacy against age-related sarcopenia.