The current study will investigate the effects of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training and L-arginine supplementation on recreationally trained female participants. In particular, it will compare performance outcomes and blood markers among two intervention groups (BFR and BFR+Arg) and a control group (CON).
The current study will investigate the effects of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training and L-arginine supplementation on recreationally trained female participants. In particular, it will compare performance outcomes and blood markers among two intervention groups (BFR and BFR+Arg) and a control group (CON). All group will participate in the same training regimen. The control group will train and ingest a placebo pill. The BFR group will train with BFR and ingest a placebo pill, and the BFR+Arg group will train with BFR and ingest an L-arginine pill. All placebo pills will be Maltodextrin. The performance outcome is leg press 1RM, while the blood markers are growth hormone (GH) and cortisol. This analysis will provide insight as to whether or not L-arginine supplementation in addition to blood flow restriction training improves performance and muscle hypertrophy measure more than blood flow restriction training alone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a non-invasive technique that uses wraps, bands, or inflated blood pressure cuffs to change blood flow within targeted muscles. Occlusion pressure of the femoral artery will be determine before each training session using the Delfi Personalize Tourniquet System for Blood Flow Restriction (2.0) which has embedded ultrasound technology to continually measure the blood flow and with auto-adjust the pressure. The target percent of occlusion is 50% of total blood flow while completed a prescribed resistance training regimen 4 times per week.
The BFR+Arg group will consume Arginine supplement daily throughout the course of the study. Supplements were manufactured by Kyowa, a US-based cGMP-compliant contract manufacturing facility independently audited and pre-qualified by the quality compliance firm, Obvium\*Q, LLC (Dallas, TX). Manufacturing batch records for production of each of the supplements were maintained by the manufacturer and finished supplements were independently assayed for identity, purity, potency, and composition using appropriate USP, AOAC, or BAM methods at the independent, analytical laboratory, Dyad Labs (Salt Lake City, UT), prior to approval for release and consumption of the supplements by participants. Each serving of the supplements were formulated to contain 3,000 mg L-Arginine (ARG; Kyowa). Each supplement also contained the inert and non-insulinotropic excipient ingredients, microcystalline cellulose and silicon dioxide.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, Texas, United States
Strength
1 RM (rep-max) will be utilized to measure lower extremity strength
Time frame: Baseline measurements will be obtained during Week 0, then measurements will be taken at Week 4 and Week 8 to determine the amount of change in participant's strength at those particular time points compared to baseline
Growth Factor
Growth Hormone will be assessed by blood draw in an acute response design
Time frame: Measured at Week 0, Week 4, and Week 8 at the following intervals: prior to supplement, 15 and 30 minutes post-supplementation (before exercise), and 90 minutes post-supplementation (after exercise)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
The CON and BFR groups will consume placebo pill daily throughout the course of the study. Supplements were manufactured by Kyowa, a US-based cGMP-compliant contract manufacturing facility independently audited and pre-qualified by the quality compliance firm, Obvium\*Q, LLC (Dallas, TX). Manufacturing batch records for production of each of the supplements were maintained by the manufacturer and finished supplements were independently assayed for identity, purity, potency, and composition using appropriate USP, AOAC, or BAM methods at the independent, analytical laboratory, Dyad Labs (Salt Lake City, UT), prior to approval for release and consumption of the supplements by participants. Each serving of the supplements were formulated to contain 3,000 mg Maltodextrin placebo (PLA; MALTRIN-M100; Grain Processing Corporation; Muscantine, IA). Each supplement also contained the inert and non-insulinotropic excipient ingredients, microcystalline cellulose and silicon dioxide.