Skeletal Muscle Response to Amino Acids and Load Carriage Exercise

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Muscle Loss, Muscle Anabolism, Muscle Performance

In brief

Warfighters often experience physical overload, as the uniform and associated gear that they carry burdens them with substantial loads. The loads increase energy expenditure to levels that exceed a Warfighter's typical energy intake. The typical assault load is approximately 25 kg, although loads as high as 55 kg are often carried, which when combined with extreme energy expenditures can degrade health and performance, and increase the risk of injury. Branched-chain amino acid (leucine) supplementation may confer protection against the negative effects of operational stress by stimulating muscle protein synthesis and reducing degradation. This study will determine if leucine-enriched nutrition supplementation confers protection against the negative consequences of sustained load carriage exercise, and explore the mechanisms by which leucine might impart protection.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01714479

Run by

United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

People needed

40

Starts

2012-10-01

Expected to finish

2013-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-07-21

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Weight stable (±5 lbs)with a body mass index between 22-29 kg/m2 and a VO2peak of 40 - 60 ml/kg/min
• Willing to refrain from taking any NSAIDS (i.e., aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Naprosyn®), or any aspirin-containing products, alchohol, and nicotine
• Females must be on oral contraception

You may not qualify if…

• Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders
• Disease or medication that affects macronutrient metabolism or the ability to participate in strenuous exercise
• Allergies or intolerance to foods (e.g. lactose intolerance/milk allergy), vegetarian practices, or medications (including, but not limited to, lidocaine or phenylalanine) to be used in the study
• Anemia (HCT <38) and Sickle Cell Anemia/Trait, abnormal PT/PTT test or problems with blood clotting
• Present condition of alcoholism, use of nutritional/sports supplements, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
• Musculoskeletal injuries that compromise the ability to exercise
• Blood donation within 8 weeks of enrollment
• Pregnancy and women not on oral contraceptives

Where it is running

• US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine — Natick, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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