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Plasma free amino acid level in subjects during maximal workload
Acta Physiologica Polonica
|March 1, 1980
Summary
Physical exercise significantly increased blood levels of alanine, glutamate, and phenylalanine in young males. Other amino acid concentrations remained largely unchanged after strenuous cycling, indicating specific metabolic responses to exertion.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Sports Science
Background:
- Physical exertion triggers metabolic changes in the body.
- Amino acid profiles can reflect physiological stress during exercise.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for sports performance and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of acute exhaustive exercise on venous blood amino acid concentrations.
- To identify specific amino acids that change significantly following strenuous physical activity.
- To analyze the relationship between exercise and amino acid metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy young males performed maximal exercise on a cycle ergometer.
- Venous blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise.
- Lactic and pyruvic acid levels were measured using enzymatic assays.
- Free amino acid composition was analyzed using an autoanalyzer (Beckmann-Multichrom).
- Statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student's t-test.
Main Results:
- Concentrations of alanine, glutamate, and phenylalanine significantly increased post-exercise.
- No statistically significant changes were observed in the levels of other determined amino acids (lysine, histidine, arginine, aspartate, threonine, serine, proline, glycine, cysteine, valine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine).
- Lactic and pyruvic acid levels were also assessed, reflecting exercise intensity.
Conclusions:
- Acute exhaustive exercise selectively alters specific amino acid concentrations in venous blood.
- Alanine, glutamate, and phenylalanine are key indicators of metabolic response to strenuous physical exertion.
- Further research can explore the functional implications of these specific amino acid changes during exercise.