Analyze Diet
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2012; 54(1); 7; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-7

Repeated post-exercise administration with a mixture of leucine and glucose alters the plasma amino acid profile in Standardbred trotters.

Abstract: The branched chain amino acid leucine is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion. Used in combination with glucose it can increase the insulin response and the post exercise re-synthesis of glycogen in man. Decreased plasma amino acid concentrations have been reported after intravenous or per oral administration of leucine in man as well as after a single per oral dose in horses. In man, a negative correlation between the insulin response and the concentrations of isoleucine, valine and methionine have been shown but results from horses are lacking. This study aims to determine the effect of repeated per oral administration with a mixture of glucose and leucine on the free amino acid profile and the insulin response in horses after glycogen-depleting exercise. Methods: In a crossover design, after a glycogen depleting exercise, twelve Standardbred trotters received either repeated oral boluses of glucose, 1 g/kg body weight (BW) at 0, 2 and 4 h with addition of leucine 0.1 g/kg BW at 0 and 4 h (GLU+LEU), or repeated boluses of water at 0, 2 and 4 h (CON). Blood samples for analysis of glucose, insulin and amino acid concentrations were collected prior to exercise and over a 6 h post-exercise period. A mixed model approach was used for the statistical analyses. Results: Plasma leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine and phenylalanine concentrations increased after exercise. Post-exercise serum glucose and plasma insulin response were significantly higher in the GLU+LEU treatment compared to the CON treatment. Plasma leucine concentrations increased after supplementation. During the post-exercise period isoleucine, valine and methionine concentrations decreased in both treatments but were significantly lower in the GLU+LEU treatment. There was no correlation between the insulin response and the response in plasma leucine, isoleucine, valine and methionine. Conclusions: Repeated post-exercise administration with a mixture of leucine and glucose caused a marked insulin response and altered the plasma amino acid profile in horses in a similar manner as described in man. However, the decreases seen in plasma amino acids in horses seem to be related more to an effect of leucine and not to the insulin response as seen in man.
Publication Date: 2012-02-01 PubMed ID: 22296999PubMed Central: PMC3292998DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-7Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the impact of repeated administration of a mixture of leucine and glucose on the free amino acid profile and insulin response in horses following exercise. It concluded that the mixture causes a significant insulin response and changes the plasma amino acid profile in horses in a similar way to humans. However, the decline in plasma amino acids in horses appears to be more related to the effect of leucine than to the insulin response.

Objective of the Study

  • The key objective of this research is to determine the impact of regular oral administration of a glucose and leucine mix on the free amino acid profile and insulin response in horses after a glycogen-depleting workout.

Methodology

  • The study uses a conventional crossover design where twelve Standardbred trotters were subjected to glycogen-depleting exercise, and then they were either given repeated oral doses of glucose and leucine or repeated doses of water.
  • The glucose dosage was 1 g/kg body weight at intervals of 0, 2, and 4 hours with added leucine of 0.1 g/kg body weight at 0 and 4 hours (GLU+LEU), or water was given at similar intervals (CON).
  • Blood samples were taken from these horses before exercise and over a 6-hour post-exercise period in order to analyze the levels of glucose, insulin, and amino acids.
  • A mixed model approach was utilized for the statistical analyses of the results.

Results and Conclusion

  • Exercise caused an increase in the plasma concentrations of several amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine.
  • The post-exercise serum glucose and plasma insulin response were significantly higher in the GLU+LEU treatment compared to the CON treatment indicating that the treatment did cause a marked insulin response.
  • Leucine supplementation led to increased plasma leucine concentrations.
  • There was a decrease in isoleucine, valine, and methionine concentrations in both treatments during the post-exercise period, but their concentrations were significantly lower in the GLU+LEU treatment.
  • The study concluded that repeated administration of a mixture of leucine and glucose post exercise triggered a significant insulin response and modified the plasma amino acid profile in horses in a similar manner as humans.
  • However, the decreases in plasma amino acids in horses seem to be related more to the effect of leucine and not to the insulin response as seen in humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Nostell KE, Essén-Gustavsson B, Bröjer JT. (2012). Repeated post-exercise administration with a mixture of leucine and glucose alters the plasma amino acid profile in Standardbred trotters. Acta Vet Scand, 54(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-7

Publication

ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 7

Researcher Affiliations

Nostell, Katarina E A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. Katarina.Nostell@slu.se
Essén-Gustavsson, Birgitta
    Bröjer, Johan T

      MeSH Terms

      • Amino Acids / blood
      • Amino Acids / metabolism
      • Animal Feed
      • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
      • Animals
      • Blood Glucose / analysis
      • Cross-Over Studies
      • Dietary Supplements
      • Female
      • Glucose / administration & dosage
      • Horses / blood
      • Horses / physiology
      • Insulin / blood
      • Leucine / administration & dosage
      • Male
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal

      References

      This article includes 30 references
      1. Kuhara T, Ikeda S, Ohneda A, Sasaki Y. Effects of intravenous infusion of 17 amino acids on the secretion of GH, glucagon, and insulin in sheep.. Am J Physiol 1991 Jan;260(1 Pt 1):E21-6.
        pubmed: 1987790doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1991.260.1.e21google scholar: lookup
      2. Fahien LA, MacDonald MJ, Kmiotek EH, Mertz RJ, Fahien CM. Regulation of insulin release by factors that also modify glutamate dehydrogenase.. J Biol Chem 1988 Sep 25;263(27):13610-4.
        pubmed: 3047128
      3. Leenders M, van Loon LJ. Leucine as a pharmaconutrient to prevent and treat sarcopenia and type 2 diabetes.. Nutr Rev 2011 Nov;69(11):675-89.
      4. Zawadzki KM, Yaspelkis BB 3rd, Ivy JL. Carbohydrate-protein complex increases the rate of muscle glycogen storage after exercise.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1992 May;72(5):1854-9.
        pubmed: 1601794doi: 10.1152/jappl.1992.72.5.1854google scholar: lookup
      5. van Loon LJ, Saris WH, Kruijshoop M, Wagenmakers AJ. Maximizing postexercise muscle glycogen synthesis: carbohydrate supplementation and the application of amino acid or protein hydrolysate mixtures.. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 Jul;72(1):106-11.
        pubmed: 10871568doi: 10.1093/ajcn/72.1.106google scholar: lookup
      6. Urschel KL, Geor RJ, Waterfall HL, Shoveller AK, McCutcheon LJ. Effects of leucine or whey protein addition to an oral glucose solution on serum insulin, plasma glucose and plasma amino acid responses in horses at rest and following exercise.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):347-54.
        doi: 10.2746/042516406777749164pubmed: 21059029google scholar: lookup
      7. Brojer JT, Nostell K, Essén-Gustavsson B, Hedenstrom U. Effects of repeated post-exercise supplementation with glucose and leucine on post-exercise glycogen storage and insulin response in horses. Am J Vet Res 2011. in press.
      8. Hagenfeldt L, Eriksson S, Wahren J. Influence of leucine on arterial concentrations and regional exchange of amino acids in healthy subjects.. Clin Sci (Lond) 1980 Sep;59(3):173-81.
        pubmed: 7428288doi: 10.1042/cs0590173google scholar: lookup
      9. Nair KS, Matthews DE, Welle SL, Braiman T. Effect of leucine on amino acid and glucose metabolism in humans.. Metabolism 1992 Jun;41(6):643-8.
        doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(92)90057-Hpubmed: 1640850google scholar: lookup
      10. Eriksson LS, Hagenfeldt L, Felig P, Wahren J. Leucine uptake by splanchnic and leg tissues in man: relative independence of insulin levels.. Clin Sci (Lond) 1983 Nov;65(5):491-8.
        pubmed: 6137307doi: 10.1042/cs0650491google scholar: lookup
      11. Zhang Y, Kobayashi H, Mawatari K, Sato J, Bajotto G, Kitaura Y, Shimomura Y. Effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on plasma concentrations of free amino acids, insulin, and energy substrates in young men.. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2011;57(1):114-7.
        doi: 10.3177/jnsv.57.114pubmed: 21512300google scholar: lookup
      12. Shimomura Y, Kobayashi H, Mawatari K, Akita K, Inaguma A, Watanabe S, Bajotto G, Sato J. Effects of squat exercise and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on plasma free amino acid concentrations in young women.. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2009 Jun;55(3):288-91.
        doi: 10.3177/jnsv.55.288pubmed: 19602839google scholar: lookup
      13. Pitkänen HT, Oja SS, Rusko H, Nummela A, Komi PV, Saransaari P, Takala T, Mero AA. Leucine supplementation does not enhance acute strength or running performance but affects serum amino acid concentration.. Amino Acids 2003 Jul;25(1):85-94.
        pubmed: 12836063doi: 10.1007/s00726-002-0343-3google scholar: lookup
      14. Pozefsky T, Felig P, Tobin JD, Soeldner JS, Cahill GF Jr. Amino acid balance across tissues of the forearm in postabsorptive man. Effects of insulin at two dose levels.. J Clin Invest 1969 Dec;48(12):2273-82.
        doi: 10.1172/JCI106193pmc: PMC297484pubmed: 5355340google scholar: lookup
      15. Fukagawa NK, Minaker KL, Young VR, Rowe JW. Insulin dose-dependent reductions in plasma amino acids in man.. Am J Physiol 1986 Jan;250(1 Pt 1):E13-7.
        pubmed: 3510558doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1986.250.1.e13google scholar: lookup
      16. Wool IG. Insulin and the regulation of protein synthesis in muscle.. Proc Nutr Soc 1972 Sep;31(2):185-91.
        doi: 10.1079/PNS19720035pubmed: 4343351google scholar: lookup
      17. van Loon LJ, Kruijshoop M, Verhagen H, Saris WH, Wagenmakers AJ. Ingestion of protein hydrolysate and amino acid-carbohydrate mixtures increases postexercise plasma insulin responses in men.. J Nutr 2000 Oct;130(10):2508-13.
        pubmed: 11015482doi: 10.1093/jn/130.10.2508google scholar: lookup
      18. Bröjer J, Holm S, Jonasson R, Hedenström U, Essén-Gustavsson B. Synthesis of proglycogen and macroglycogen in skeletal muscle of standardbred trotters after intermittent exercise.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):335-9.
      19. Öberg J, Lilliehöök I, Wattle O. Validation of a species specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of serum insulin in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:778–779.
      20. Pfeifer R, Korpi J, Burgoyne R, McCourt D. Practical application of HPLC to amino acid analyses. Am Lab 1983;15:77–84.
      21. Reeta Pösö A, Hyyppä S. Metabolic and hormonal changes after exercise in relation to muscle glycogen concentrations.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999 Jul;(30):332-6.
      22. Hackl S, van den Hoven R, Zickl M, Spona J, Zentek J. Individual differences and repeatability of post-prandial changes of plasma-free amino acids in young horses.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2006 Nov;53(9):439-44.
      23. Pratt SE, Geor RJ, Spriet LL, McCutcheon LJ. Time course of insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle glycogen synthase activity after a single bout of exercise in horses.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2007 Sep;103(3):1063-9.
      24. Alvestrand A, Hagenfeldt L, Merli M, Oureshi A, Eriksson LS. Influence of leucine infusion on intracellular amino acids in humans.. Eur J Clin Invest 1990 Jun;20(3):293-8.
      25. Blomstrand E, Saltin B. BCAA intake affects protein metabolism in muscle after but not during exercise in humans.. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2001 Aug;281(2):E365-74.
      26. Aftring RP, Block KP, Buse MG. Leucine and isoleucine activate skeletal muscle branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase in vivo.. Am J Physiol 1986 May;250(5 Pt 1):E599-604.
      27. Flakoll PJ, Borel MJ, Wentzel LS, Williams PE, Lacy DB, Abumrad NN. The role of glucagon in the control of protein and amino acid metabolism in vivo.. Metabolism 1994 Dec;43(12):1509-16.
        doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(94)90009-4pubmed: 7990704google scholar: lookup
      28. Essén-Gustavsson B, Connysson M, Jansson A. Effects of crude protein intake from forage-only diets on muscle amino acids and glycogen levels in horses in training.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):341-6.
      29. Hackl S, van den Hoven R, Zickl M, Spona J, Zentek J. The effects of short intensive exercise on plasma free amino acids in standardbred trotters.. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2009 Apr;93(2):165-73.
      30. Blomstrand E, Newsholme EA. Effect of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the exercise-induced change in aromatic amino acid concentration in human muscle.. Acta Physiol Scand 1992 Nov;146(3):293-8.

      Citations

      This article has been cited 3 times.
      1. Graham-Thiers PM, Bowen LK. The effect of time of feeding on plasma amino acids during exercise and recovery in horses.. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Apr;5(2):txab045.
        doi: 10.1093/tas/txab045pubmed: 34179699google scholar: lookup
      2. Warnken T, Huber K, Feige K. Comparison of three different methods for the quantification of equine insulin.. BMC Vet Res 2016 Sep 9;12(1):196.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0828-zpubmed: 27613127google scholar: lookup
      3. Gim JA, Hong CP, Kim DS, Moon JW, Choi Y, Eo J, Kwon YJ, Lee JR, Jung YD, Bae JH, Choi BH, Ko J, Song S, Ahn K, Ha HS, Yang YM, Lee HK, Park KD, Do KT, Han K, Yi JM, Cha HJ, Ayarpadikannan S, Cho BW, Bhak J, Kim HS. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation before-and after exercise in the thoroughbred horse with MeDIP-Seq.. Mol Cells 2015 Mar;38(3):210-20.
        doi: 10.14348/molcells.2015.2138pubmed: 25666347google scholar: lookup