Clinical trial NCT01931722: Exercise and Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA)Requirements in Older Men
Official title: Can Branched Chained Amino Acid Supplementation Combined With Strength-Training Minimize Sarcopenia in Older Men?
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: SUSPENDED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sarcopenia
Keywords: branched chain amino acid requirement
older men
strength training
sarcopenia
Lead sponsor: University of Western Ontario, Canada
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2013-08-29
Enrollment: 6
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 55
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Likely, branched chain amino acid (BCAA) requirements are increased in older strength-trained (ST) individuals. If so, supplementation in this group will maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and minimize loss of muscle with age (sarcopenia).

Detailed description: We hypothesize that the dietary requirement for the branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in an older strength-trained (ST) population will be greater than the current recommendation (RDA). If so, a greater intake of BCAA together with ST is necessary if one aims to maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Currently, the BCAA requirement in the ST older population (55-65 y) is unknown. This is critical information especially given the value of ST for overall health.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Recreationally active (\~2-3 h/wk of physical activity) healthy older men (55-65 y)
* A minimum of 4 month weight training experience

Exclusion Criteria:

* Have symptoms or take medication for respiratory disease
* Have symptoms or take medication for cardiovascular disease
* Have symptoms or take medication for metabolic disease
* Have symptoms or take mediation for neuromuscular disease
* Use heart rate or blood pressure medications
* Use any medications with side effects of dizziness, lack of motor control, or slowed reaction time
* Have an excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day)
* Have any cardiovascular or neuromuscular limitations to exercise
* Are allergic to milk or milk products
* Use anabolic steroids or performance enhancing drugs

Primary outcomes:
measure: Required Branched chain amino acid of older strength trained men
timeFrame: 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Muscle size
timeFrame: 12 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: London
country: Canada
facility: Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: The University of Western Ontario
name: Peter Lemon, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: The University of Western Ontario
name: Arash Bandegan, MSc.
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
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