Effect of a leucine-enriched essential amino acids mixture on muscle recovery.
Yasushi Matsui, Shoji Takayanagi, Takuya Ohira and 4 others
PMID 30774214WHAT IT FOUND
Leucine-enriched amino acids lowered a blood marker of muscle damage but did not improve strength or reduce pain.
The effect on damage markers was significant, while functional outcomes showed no difference between the supplement and placebo.
Key findings
01The relative increase in serum CPK activity, a marker of muscle damage, was significantly lower with leucine-enriched amino acids than with placebo.
02There were no significant differences between the supplement and placebo for maximal muscle strength or muscle pain scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was very small (10 men), which limits the reliability of the findings. The participants were healthy, untrained men, so results may not apply to clinical populations or athletes. The primary functional outcomes (strength and pain) were null, meaning the biological effect on CPK did not translate to a perceptible clinical benefit.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that because a blood marker of muscle damage (CPK) decreased, the patient will recover faster or feel less pain. The study found no significant improvement in strength or pain scores.