What are the latest findings on the role of amino acids in muscle repair and growth?

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The Role of Amino Acids in Muscle Repair and Growth: Latest Findings

Leucine-Enriched Essential Amino Acids (LEAAs) and Muscle Recovery

Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of leucine-enriched essential amino acids (LEAAs) in muscle repair and recovery post-exercise. LEAAs have been shown to moderately attenuate muscle damage without necessarily increasing myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) in the days following resistance exercise. This suggests that while LEAAs can enhance muscle recovery, their effect on protein synthesis might not be as pronounced as previously thought .

Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) and Muscle Function

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, isoleucine, and valine, are crucial for muscle growth and repair. BCAAs promote muscle protein synthesis, reduce protein oxidation, and have positive effects on mitochondrial biogenesis and reactive oxygen species scavenging. However, their supplementation does not significantly alter muscle force capacities or metabolic alterations following exercise-induced muscle damage . Additionally, BCAAs enhance macrophage polarization, which is essential for the repair of exercise-induced muscle damage by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of muscle satellite cells .

Amino Acids and Muscle Protein Synthesis

Amino acids play a vital role in muscle protein synthesis and overall muscle function. Leucine and its metabolite, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), activate the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which is crucial for protein synthesis. Similarly, valine's metabolite, β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), increases energy expenditure and supports muscle function . Essential amino acids (EAAs) also stimulate muscle protein synthesis and alter the expression of microRNAs and growth-related genes, which are critical for muscle growth and repair .

The Role of Serine and Glycine in Muscle Regeneration

Serine and glycine, although non-essential amino acids, are conditionally essential for muscle regeneration. These amino acids are necessary for the proliferation of muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) and muscle-specific adult stem cells (MuSCs). Their availability is crucial for efficient skeletal muscle regeneration, especially following injury .

Amino Acids and IGF1 Regulation

Amino acids, along with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), play essential roles in muscle growth and protein synthesis. Studies on fish muscle cells have shown that amino acids and IGF1 modulate various signaling pathways, including the IGF/PI3K pathway, which is crucial for muscle differentiation and growth . In older women, EAA supplementation has been shown to increase lean body mass, basal muscle protein synthesis, and IGF1 expression, potentially offsetting the effects of sarcopenia .

Conclusion

The latest research underscores the multifaceted role of amino acids in muscle repair and growth. While leucine-enriched essential amino acids and BCAAs are beneficial for muscle recovery and macrophage polarization, their impact on muscle protein synthesis varies. Non-essential amino acids like serine and glycine are crucial for muscle regeneration, and the interplay between amino acids and IGF1 is vital for muscle growth. These findings highlight the importance of amino acids in developing nutritional strategies to enhance muscle repair and growth.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

Leucine-Enriched Essential Amino Acids Improve Recovery from Post-Exercise Muscle Damage Independent of Increases in Integrated Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis in Young Men

Leucine-enriched essential amino acids (LEAAs) moderately attenuate muscle damage without concomitant increases in integrated myofibrillar protein synthesis in free-living recreationally active men.

RCTVery Rigorous Journal

2020·

26citations

·Marcus Waskiw-Ford et al.

Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Function by Amino Acids

Amino acids and their metabolites play crucial roles in skeletal muscle function, with exercise activating BCAA metabolism and promoting energy expenditure, while -alanine supplementation improves physical performance in middle-aged individuals.

Very Rigorous JournalHighly Cited

2020·

133citations

·Yasutomi Kamei et al.

Determining the Potential Roles of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in the Regulation of Muscle Growth in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Based on Transcriptome and MicroRNA Sequencing

This study reveals potential molecular mechanisms underlying muscle protein deposition regulation in common carp, providing insights into genetic engineering techniques to improve muscle development.

Non-RCTAnimal Study

2023·

5citations

·Xianglin Cao et al.

Effects of branched-chain amino acids supplementation on both plasma amino acids concentration and muscle energetics changes resulting from muscle damage: A randomized placebo controlled trial.

Branched-chain amino acids supplementation did not significantly improve muscle force capacities or metabolic alterations after exercise-induced muscle damage.

RCTVery Rigorous Journal

2016·

32citations

·A. Fouré et al.

Amino Acids and IGF1 Regulation of Fish Muscle Growth Revealed by Transcriptome and microRNAome Integrative Analyses of Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) Myotubes

Amino acids and IGF1 play essential roles in fish muscle growth, with potential molecular markers influencing muscle physiology and metabolism.

In Vitro Study

2022·

16citations

·B. O. S. Duran et al.

Extracellular serine and glycine are required for mouse and human skeletal muscle stem and progenitor cell function

Extracellular serine and glycine are essential for efficient skeletal muscle regeneration, as their de novo synthesis is inadequate to support these demands.

Non-RCTAnimal StudyRigorous Journal

2020·

37citations

·Brandon J. Gheller et al.

Amino acid supplementation increases lean body mass, basal muscle protein synthesis, and insulin-like growth factor-I expression in older women.

Essential amino acid supplementation improves lean body mass and basal muscle protein synthesis in older women, potentially offsetting the debilitating effects of sarcopenia.

RCTRigorous JournalHighly Cited

2009·

269citations

·E. Dillon et al.

Branched-chain amino acids promotes the repair of exercise-induced muscle damage via enhancing macrophage polarization

BCAA supplementation promotes exercise-induced muscle damage repair by enhancing macrophage polarization and stimulating muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation.

Non-RCTAnimal Study

2022·

5citations

·Yunfeng Dong et al.

The aromatic amino acid tryptophan stimulates skeletal muscle IGF1/p70s6k/mTor signaling in vivo and the expression of myogenic genes in vitro.

Dietary tryptophan supplementation can potentially reduce muscle loss in dietary protein deficiency by enhancing muscle growth and promoting muscle regeneration.

Non-RCTAnimal StudyHighly Cited

2015·

72citations

·A. Dukes et al.

Essential amino acids increase microRNA-499, -208b, and -23a and downregulate myostatin and myocyte enhancer factor 2C mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle.

Essential amino acids rapidly alter microRNA expression and muscle growth-related genes in skeletal muscle within hours of ingestion.

Non-RCTVery Rigorous JournalHighly Cited

2009·

122citations

·M. Drummond et al.

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