Effect of Four Weeks of Separate and Concomitant Leucine and Taurine Supplementation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Indices and Muscle Pain Perception Rate after Eccentric Resistance Exercise

Delayed-onset muscle soreness after eccentric resistance exercise, which is usually part of military training, maybe due to damage to muscle structure. Nutrition can play a critical role in muscle damage by playing a vital role in both protein synthesis and catabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of four weeks of separate and concomitant leucine and taurine supplementation on delayed muscle soreness indices and muscle pain perception rate after eccentric resistance exercise in young non-trained men.

In this quasi-experimental study, 48 non-trained young men were randomly divided into four groups of taurine + leucine supplement (2 g of taurine and 0.1 g of leucine per kg of body weight per day), taurine supplement (2 g taurine per day), leucine supplement (0.1 g leucine per kg body weight per day) and placebo (1500 mg maltodextrin per day) and took supplement and placebo for four weeks. Delayed onset muscle soreness in lower body muscles developed using knee flexion with a weight equivalent to 70% of 1RM (3 sets and 15 repetitions). Serum creatinine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes were measured by photometry and muscle pain perception rate was measured using the Pain Assessment scale (PAS) at the time before, immediately after, 24, 48 and 72 hours after eccentric resistance training.

Comparison of changes in creatinine kinase activity and muscle pain perception rate showed a significant difference in different stages before and after eccentric resistance exercise (P<0.05).These changes were significant in the leucine + taurine group in the pre-test times up to 24 hours and 48 hours post-test compared to the leucine, taurine and placebo groups (P <0.05). Changes in lactate dehydrogenase activity between groups were not significant at different times.

Concomitant use of leucine and taurine supplements can reduce some of the indicators of muscle damage and muscle pain perception rate after eccentric resistance exercise.