American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By: Mark J. Occhipinti, M.S., Ph.D., N.D.c.

Normal healthy individuals readily adapt to various nutritional and environmental changes through responsive metabolic pathways which precisely regulate the body’s internal environment. Stresses on the body can result in changes in the body.

These stresses can be:

1. Physical (such as dropping body weight for a sporting event )
2. Metabolic (as a result of illness or injury)
3. Emotional (divorce, death in the family, etc.)

These changes can result in altered body biochemistry that may be difficult or impossible to re-equilibrate through manipulation of the diet or the environment alone. Ingesting amino acids in a balanced formula, where all ten essential amino acids are present, will re-establish homeo-stasis or balance. 1-2 Numerous clinical studies reported in respected medical journals have identified individual amino acids and their specific functions throughout the body. In one such study, Bassare, identified changes in amino acid metabolism in the muscle during sustained dynamic exercise.3 During this time, changes both in the plasma (blood) and within the muscle cells occurred and were followed by a rapid return to pre-exercise levels upon cessation of work and with the addition of oral loading of supplemental amino acids.4

Harper and Benevenga have reported in both animal and man that diets devoid or imbalance in one- or more of the essential amino acids caused abnormal concentrations of the non-essential amino acids. 8
This led to gross changes in appetite and behavior weight loss fatigue and mental confusion. 5

What does all this mean to the athlete or the average individual trying to maintain a degree of fitness or look good for the coming summer season?

Previous articles that I have written have set guidelines for supplements offering the highest quality and least potential side-effects: capsule rather than tablet, the addition of small amounts of B-vitamins and fruit juice to facilitate uptake and utilization etc. It is a known fact that the use of amino acids (free form crystalline that contains the essential amino acids) in the diet of athletes spares the breakdown of muscle glycogen in those individuals who had restricted their caloric intake. 6 You should go back and read that last statement again. The implications in this research for the bodybuilder, especially in the natural bodybuilder, are encouraging. Imagine, maintaining positive nitrogen balance and retaining muscle mass in the final weeks of preparation before a contest when, in an effort to lose that little bit of body-fat you also sacrifice some lean body mass.

The use of supplemental amino acids at this point serve two purposes:

1. To supply up to 15% energy during workouts (branched chain amino acids.
2. Allowing the body an avenue to utilize stored body fat as energy by the addition of carnitine.7

In athletes who received amino acids in formulation coupled with 5 vitamins and minerals the following results were seen.
An increase in the components of energy metabolism, increased activity of coenzyme systems and an equilibration of the amino acid composition in the nervous, skeletal and organ systems. 8-9 Four amino acids in particular are of importance in the brain’s response to diets.

1. Phenylalanine which can be helpful in appetite control by stimulating CCK (cholescystokinin enzyme) secretion. This enzyme informs your hypothalamus that you have had enough to eat. (The feeling of fullness, or satiety) 2,3,4

2. Aspartic Acid a synthetic amino acid compound is found in many diet foods, is the sweetener Aspartame ( Phenyalanine is also an ingredient of Nutrasweet), and should be avoided by those individuals who are hypertensive ( high blood pressure) or who are taking MAOs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) for certain types of depression. 9

3. Tryptophan which aids in sleep by producing Serotonin, has been found to control carbohydrate craving. 10 It is found naturally in almost all protein foods.Unfortunately the only way to acquire this critical amino acid today is by prescription after the FDA wrongly associated it with an outbreak in 1989 of a neurogical condition that had nothing to do with Tryptophan.

4. Tyrosine is intricately involved in the formation of the thyroid hormone, is necessary in temperature and fat metabolism regulation.

A Healthy Meal Plan

1. Adequate complex carbohydrates (breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, millet, bulgar, and other starchy vegetables, etc.) 7-11 servings each day. Follow the Mediterranean or Asian Food Pyramid

2. Remember to rotate foods to avoid single food allergies. Do not have any one food each and every day as the human body builds tolerance to frequently eaten foods.

3. Drinking water that is chlorine, sodium and fluorine free; Eight (8) ounce classes each day as a minimum. Distilled water is best.

4. Avoid saturated fats from animal sources like the plague no matter what the current crop of authors espouse regarding how great bacon and eggs for breakfast are.

5. Regular Exercise (defined as walking, swimming, cycling, a minimum of 20 minutes three times per week)

6. A balanced daily intake of anti-oxidant supplements: Beta-Carotene, (5,000 mgs/day) vitamin E (400-800 I.U.’s/day and Vitamin C (2-5,000 mgs/day).14 The addition of L-Glutamine by capsuleor by spoonful (4-8 grams/day) is a potent anti-oxidant and also serves a dual role in muscle tissue restoration. 15

References

1. Amstein, H.R.V. Synthesis of Amino Acids and Proteins. London Butterworths. Baltimore (Jn. Pk. Press. pp. 163-169, 1975.
2. Bland, J. Medical Applications of Clinical Nutrition. Keats Pub. pp. 83-89,1983.
3. Buskirk, D. Some Nutritional Considerations in the Conditioning of Athletes. Annual Review of Nutrition. pp. 319-350, 1981.
4. Goldberb, A-L et al. In Protein Degradation in Health and Disease. CIBA Symposium, F-xcerpta Medica. 227-229, 1980.
5. Beecher. GR et al Amino Acid (Uptake and Levels Influence of Endurance Training, Biochemical Medicine. 21:196-201, 1979.
6. Chaitow, L Amino Acids in Therapy- A Guide to Therapeutic Application of Protein Constituents. Thorsos Pub. Inc. NY 1985.
7. Consolazio, FC- et al. Protein Metabolism During Intense,. Physical Training in the Young Adult. Nutrit: Rep. lnt. vol. 11 (3)231-236,75.
8-9. Bazzarre, TL et al. The Influence of a Twelve Week Conditioning Program of Growth Hormone and Somatomedin-C Concentration of obese Males. Med. Sc. in Sports and Exercise. vol. 15, Nov. 1983.
10. Harper, AE- Benevega, NJ Effects of Ingestion of Disproportionate Amounts of Amino Acids. Physiological Review.50-428-558. 1970.
11. Bulus N. Metabolism, 1989; 38,8 Suppl 1 pp. 1-15
12. Ushakov, A.S. et al. Effects of Vitamin and Amino Acid Supplementation on Human Performance during Heavy Mental and Physical Work Aviation, Space. and Environmental Medicine.
13. Shabert, J.MD The Ultimate Nutrient: Glutamine. 1994
14. Cooper, K. MD Anti-oxidant Revolution, Thomas Nelson Pub. 1994.
15. Shabert,J,MD, et al. The Ultimate Nutrient; Glutamine,1994