Dietary Supplements and the Promotion of Muscle Growth with Resistance Exercise

Author: Kreider R.B.

Source: Sports Medicine, Volume 27, Number 2, February 1999 , pp. 97-110(14)

Publisher: Adis International

Abstract:

Nutritional strategies of overfeeding, ingesting carbohydrate/protein before and after exercise, and dietary supplementation of various nutrients [e.g. protein, glutamine, branched-chain amino acid, creatine, leucine, -hydroxy -methylbutyrate (-HMB), chromium, vanadyl sulfate, boron, prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) and androstenedione] have been purported to promote gains in fat-free mass during resistance training.

Most studies indicate that chromium, vanadyl sulfate and boron supplementation do not affect muscle growth. However, there is evidence that ingesting carbohydrate/protein prior to exercise may reduce catabolism during exercise and that ingesting carbohydrate/protein following resistance-exercise may promote a more anabolic hormonal profile. Furthermore, glutamine, creatine, leucine, and calcium -HMB may affect protein synthesis.

Creatine and calcium -HMB supplementation during resistance training have been reported to increase fat-free mass in athletic and nonathletic populations. Prasterone supplementation has been reported to increase testosterone and fat-free mass in nontrained populations. However, results are equivocal, studies have yet to be conducted on athletes, and prasterone is considered a banned substance by some athletic organisations.

This paper discusses rationale and effectiveness of these nutritional strategies in promoting lean tissue accretion during resistance training.

Keywords: Reviews-on-treatment; Body-composition; Diet; Carbohydrates, pharmacodynamics; Proteins, pharmacodynamics; Amino-acids, pharmacodynamics; Creatine-monohydrate, pharmacodynamics; Exercise; Prasterone, pharmacodynamics; Research-and-development; Hormones, pharmacodynamics

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

Affiliations: 1: Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Human Movement Sciences and Education, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA *

Publication date: 1999-02-01

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