Branched-chain amino acid supplementation and the immune response of long-distance athletes
Abstract
Objective Intense long-duration exercise has been associated with immunosuppression, which affects natural killer cells, lymphokine-activated killer cells, and lymphocytes. The mechanisms involved, however, are not fully determined and seem to be multifactorial, including endocrine changes and alteration of plasma glutamine concentration. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the immune response of triathletes and long-distance runners.Methods Peripheral blood was collected prior to and immediately after an Olympic Triathlon or a 30k run. Lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production by cultured cells, and plasma glutamine were measured.Results After the exercise bout, athletes from the placebo group presented a decreased plasma glutamine concentration that was abolished by branched-chain amino acid supplementation and an increased proliferative response in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Those cells also produced, after exercise, less tumor necrosis factor, interleukins-1 and -4, and interferon and 48% more interleukin-2. Supplementation stimulated the production of interleukin-2 and interferon after exercise and a more pronounced decrease in the production of interleukin-4, indicating a diversion toward a Th1 type immune response.Conclusions Our results indicate that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation recovers the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells proliferate in response to mitogens after a long distance intense exercise, as well as plasma glutamine concentration. The amino acids also modify the pattern of cytokine production leading to a diversion of the immune response toward a Th1 type of immune response.
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BCAA intake caused a substantial improvement in immune response.
“The main findings of these extracted studies reveal that BCAA intake caused a substantial improvement in BCAAs:tryptophan ratio [21,27] and immune response [27,38,39].”
From Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation in Athletes: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
Five studies demonstrated a higher risk of bias on the fourth domain concerning measurement outcome.
“On the fourth domain—concerning measurement outcome—five studies demonstrated a higher risk of bias [32,38,39,41].”
From Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation in Athletes: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
The details of randomization were not totally clarified in studies 31, 33, 38, 39, and 42.
“The details of randomization were not totally clarified in studies [31,33,38,39,42].”
From Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation in Athletes: A Systematic Review (2022) · cites this paper as [38]
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Oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation in Athletes: A Systematic Review
Martinho, D. V., Nobari, H., Faria, A., Field, A., Duarte, D., & Sarmento, H. (2022) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu14194002 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bassit, R. A., Sawada, L. A., Bacurau, R. F. P., Navarro, F., Martins, E., Santos, R. V. T., Caperuto, E. C., Rogeri, P., & Costa Rosa, L. F. B. P.
- Affiliations
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Venue
- Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 376-379
- ISSN
- 0899-9007 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2102201937
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 5.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- branched-chain amino acids, exercise immunosuppression, triathletes, long-distance runners, plasma glutamine, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, interleukin-2, interferon, Th1 response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Amino Acids, Branched-Chain, Bicycling, Glutamine, Humans, Immune System, Immunity, Cellular, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Physical Endurance, Running, Swimming, Cytokines, Dietary Supplements
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