Influence of Xpand Nitric Oxide Reactor, L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, and Caffeine Supplementation on Calf Muscle Re-Oxygenation During and after Acute Resistance Exercise

Brittany C. Collins; Ryan Sapp; John LaManca; Christopher Wolff; Edwin Miranda; Vincent Gutierrez; Scott A. Mazzetti

doi:10.6000/1929-5634.2012.01.02.5

Authors

Brittany C. Collins University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Ryan Sapp Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
John LaManca Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
Christopher Wolff Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
Edwin Miranda Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
Vincent Gutierrez National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
Scott A. Mazzetti Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2012.01.02.5

Keywords:

Ergogenic, blood flow, oxygen delivery, supplements, vasomotor, athletic performance, near infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Xpand Nitric Oxide Reactor is a ‘cocktail’ supplement proposed to improve skeletal muscle blood flow via arginine’s effect on nitric oxide synthesis and vasodilation. Two other major ingredients, caffeine and creatine, cause vasoconstriction, which could potentially counteract the proposed hemodynamic effects of arginine. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of Xpand Nitric Oxide Reactor on muscle re-oxygenation after resistance exercise compared to supplementation with constituent ingredients L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate and caffeine. Nine recreationally active men (21±1y) performed 3 sets of 20 repetitions of seated single-leg calf raise at 60% 1-RM with 3 min rests. The same calf raise exercise was performed following 4 separate supplementation conditions: L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG), caffeine (CAFF), Xpand Nitric Oxide Reactor (XPAND), and placebo (PLAC). Soleus muscle re-oxygenation time was measured before, during, and immediately after exercise using near infrared spectroscopy. Supplementation with XPAND (0.43±0.03), AAKG (0.34±0.02), and CAFF (0.45±0.05) did not significantly affect muscle re-oxygenation halftime (minutes) compared to placebo (0.35±0.04). An arginine containing ‘cocktail’ supplement did not affect skeletal muscle re-oxygenation after resistance exercise, possibly due to a wash-out effect caused by the multiple ingredients.

References

Alvares TS, Meirelles CM, Bhambhani YN, Paschoalin VMF, Gomes PSC. L-arginine as a potential ergogenic aid in healthy subjects. Sports Med 2011; 41(3): 233-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/11538590-000000000-00000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11538590-000000000-00000

Maiorana A, O'Driscoll G, Taylor R, Green D. Exercise and the nitric oxide vasodilator system. Sports Med 2003; 33: 1013-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333140-00001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333140-00001

Goud C, DiPiero A, Lockette W, Webb R, Charpie J. Cyclic GMP-independent mechanisms of nitric oxide induced vasodilation. Gen Pharmacol 1998; 32: 51-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0306-3623(98)00059-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-3623(98)00059-7

Shibata M, Ichioka S, Kamiya A. Nitric oxide modulates oxygen consumption by arteriolar walls in rat skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2005; 289(6): 2673-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00420.2005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00420.2005

Böger RH. The pharmacodynamics of L-arginine. J Nutr 2007; 137(6): 1650-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.6.1650S

Little J, Forbes S, Candow D, Cornish S, Chilibeck P. Creatine, arginine α-ketoglutarate, amino acids, and medium-chain triglycerides and endurance and performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2008; 18(5): 493-508. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.18.5.493

Tarnopolsky M. Caffeine and creatine use in sport. Ann Nutr Metab 2010; 57: 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000322696 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000322696

Paddon-Jones D, Børsheim E, Wolfe RR. Potential ergogenic effects of arginine and creatine supplementation. J Nutr 2004; 134(10): 2888S-94S. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.10.2888S

Rahimi R. Creatine supplementation decreases oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by a single bout of resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25(12): 3448-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182162f2b DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182162f2b

Schoch R, Willoughby D, Greenwood M. The regulation and expression of the creatine transporter: a brief review of creatine supplementation in humans and animals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2006; 3(1): 60-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-3-1-60 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-3-1-60

Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Bush JA, Boetes M, Incledon T, Clark KL, et al. Creatine supplementation enhances muscular performance during high-intensity resistance exercise. J Am Diet Assoc 1997; 97(7): 765-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(97)00189-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(97)00189-2

Gotshalk LA, Volek JS, Staron RS, Deneger CR, Hagerman FC, Kraemer WJ. Creatine supplementation improves muscular performance in older men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34(3): 537-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200203000-00023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200203000-00023

Campbell B, Roberts M, Kerksick C, Wilborn C, Marcello B, Taylor L, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and effects on exercise performance of L-arginine α-ketoglutarate in trained adult men. Nutrition 2006; 22(9): 872-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2006.06.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2006.06.003

McAllister R, Newcomer S, Laughlin M. Vascular nitric oxide: effects of exercise training in animals. Appl Physiology Nutr Metab 2008; 33(1): 173-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/H07-146 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/H07-146

McConell GK. Effects of L-arginine supplementation on exercise metabolism. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2007; 10(1): 46-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0b013e32801162fa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0b013e32801162fa

Papamichael CM, Aznaouridis KA, Karatzis EN, Karatzi KN, Stamatelopoulos KS, Vamvakou G, et al. Effect of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects: the role of caffeine. Clin Sci 2005; 109(1): 55-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/CS20040358 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20040358

Bloomer RJ, Farney TM, Trepanowski JF, McCarthy CG, Canale RE, Schilling BK. J Strength Cond Res. Comparison of pre-workout nitric oxide stimulating dietary supplements on skeletal muscle oxygen saturation, blood nitrate/nitrite, lipid peroxidation, and upper body exercise performance in resistance trained men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2010; 7: 6-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-7-16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-7-16

Baechle T, Earle R. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning 3rd ed. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics 2008.

Belardinelli R, Barstow T, Porszasz J, Wasserman K. Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during incremental exercise measured with near infrared spectroscopy. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1995; 70(6): 487-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00634377 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634377

Ferrari M, Binzoni T, Quaresima V. Oxidative metabolism in muscle. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1997; 352(1354): 677-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1997.0049 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1997.0049

Mancini D, Wilson J, Bolinger L, Li H, Kendrick K, Chance B, et al. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurement of deoxymyoglobin during exercise in patients with heart failure. Demonstration of abnormal muscle metabolism despite adequate oxygenation. Circulation 1994; 90(1): 500-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.90.1.500 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.90.1.500

Rundell KW, Nioka S, Chance B. Hemoglobin/myoglobin desaturation during speed skating. Med Sci Sports Exer 1997; 29(2): 248-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199702000-00014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-199702000-00014

Wilson J, Mancini D, McCully K, Ferraro N, Lanoce V, Chance B. Noninvasive detection of skeletal muscle underperfusion with near-infrared spectroscopy in patients with heart failure. Circulation 1989; 80(6): 1668-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.80.6.1668 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.80.6.1668

Prosser JM, Majlesi N, Chan GM, Olsen D, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS. Adverse effects associated with arginine alpha-ketoglutarate containing supplements. Hum Exp Toxicol 2009; 28(5): 259-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327109104498 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0960327109104498

Bescós R, Sureda A, Tur JA, Pons A. The effect of nitric-oxide-related supplements on human performance. Sports Med 2012; 42(2): 99-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/11596860-000000000-00000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11596860-000000000-00000

Willoughby DS, Boucher T, Reid J, Skelton G, Clark M. Effects of 7 days of arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation on blood flow, plasma L-arginine, nitric oxide metabolites, and asymmetric dimethyl arginine after resistance exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2011; 21(4): 291-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.21.4.291

Palmer RM, Ashton DS, Moncada S. Vascular endothelial cells synthesize nitric oxide from L-arginine. Nature 1988; 333(6174): 664-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/333664a0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333664a0

Tang JE, Lysecki PJ, Manolakos JJ, MacDonald MJ, Tarnopolsky MA, Phillips SM. Bolus arginine supplementation affects neither muscle blood flow nor muscle protein synthesis in young men at rest or after resistance exercise. J Nutr 2011; 141(2): 195-200. http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.130138 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.130138

Bode-Böger SM, Böger RH, Galland A, Tsikas D, Frölich JC. L-arginine-induced vasodilation in healthy humans: pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998; 46(5): 489-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.1998.00803.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.1998.00803.x