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Published on: July 5, 2017
Effects of hemp supplementation during resistance training in trained young adults
Mojtaba Kaviani1, Keely A Shaw2, Darren G Candow3
1School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada.
Purpose:
Hemp contains protein with high concentrations of the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine and oils that have anti-inflammatory properties. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of hemp supplementation during resistance training in trained young adults.
Methods:
Males (n = 22, 29 ± 8y) and females (n = 12, 30 ± 9y) were randomized (double-blind) to receive 60 g/d of hemp (containing 40 g protein and 9 g oil) or 60 g/d of soy (matched for protein and calories) during eight weeks of resistance training (~ 4x/week). Before and after the intervention, participants were assessed for whole-body lean tissue and fat mass (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), regional muscle hypertrophy (ultrasound), strength (1-repetition maximum leg press, bench press, biceps curl), voluntary activation (interpolated twitch technique), resting twitch properties (single pulse; 0.5 ms) (before and after a fatigue test), markers of inflammation (Interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein), and bone resorption (urinary N-telopeptides).
Results:
Hemp supplementation increased elbow flexor muscle thickness in females (2.6 ± 0.4-3.1 ± 0.5 cm, p = 0.012) while soy supplementation increased elbow flexor muscle thickness in males (3.7 ± 0.4-4.0 ± 0.5 cm, p < 0.01). Twitch torque and rate of torque development were preserved after a fatigue test in males consuming hemp compared to males on soy (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Overall, hemp provides some sex-specific beneficial effects on measures of muscle accretion and torque under fatiguing conditions in resistance trained young adults.
Clinicaltrials:
gov Identifier: NCT02529917, registered August 11, 2015.
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