Effects of exhaustive training with L-arginine consumption on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers in young bodybuilders

The acute exercise causes induction of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Considering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of L-arginine, in this study we have investigated effects of L-arginine consumption on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers following exhaustive training in young bodybuilders.

In an interventional study, 30 young bodybuilders were divided into two equal groups, placebo (consuming L-arginine) and supplementation (consuming dextrose). Each individual received 3 g/day of L-arginine or dextrose for one week. During the supplementation, all participants performed one week exhaustive training according the specific protocol. Blood samples were collected before (at baseline) and immediately after first training session (for evaluating acute effects) and also after one week training. Finally serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in all samples by ELISA.

The results showed that exhaustive training caused a significantly increase in levels of CRP, MDA and IL6 (p<0.05). Our results revealed that the L-arginine consumption could prevent exercise-induced increasing in concentration of these factors following trainings. Also, positive correlations were observed between CRP with IL6, CRP with MDA and IL6 with MDA before the training.

Performing acute and chronic exhaustive training even in athlete causes increasing in inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers and consumption of L-arginine could modulate chronic and acute exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.