l-Arginine supplementation improves rats' antioxidant system and exercise performance

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Sports Science

Background:

• Reactive species significantly influence athletic performance by regulating energy, muscle function, inflammation, and fatigue.
• Redox control is crucial for optimizing athletes' physical capabilities.
• L-arginine plays a role in urea synthesis, cell growth, and nitric oxide production, potentially benefiting the muscle antioxidant system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of L-arginine supplementation on exercise performance and oxidative stress in trained and untrained male rats.
• To assess the impact of L-arginine on the antioxidant system and performance following high-intensity exercise.

Main Methods:

• Forty male Wistar rats were divided into control, control+L-arginine, trained, and trained+L-arginine groups.
• Aerobic training was conducted over 8 weeks, followed by a single high-intensity exercise session.
• Performance was measured by maximum speed and time; oxidative stress and antioxidant variables were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Aerobic training enhanced exercise performance and improved the redox state in rats.
• L-arginine supplementation boosted physical performance in both control and trained groups.
• Varied improvements in antioxidant capacity were observed between groups, with untrained animals potentially more susceptible to oxidative damage.

Conclusions:

• L-arginine demonstrates ergogenic effects, enhancing physical performance.
• While training improves performance and redox state, L-arginine offers additional benefits.
• Untrained individuals may require greater attention to antioxidant support to mitigate exercise-induced oxidative stress.