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Sports Supplement Products Review By Anssi Manninen, MHS MuscleTech Anator-P70 Advanced Muscle Gene Activator “If an elderly, but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong.” —Arthur C. Clarke Pull Quote: Oral intake of protein hydrolysates and amino acids in combination with carbohydrates can result in an insulinotropic effect as much as 100 percent greater than with the intake of carbohydrates only. MuscleTech is dedicated to developing the most effective dietary supplements in the world. To date, they have funded over 80 research studies, including recent research trials at Baylor University, the University of Nottingham, the University of Laval, St. Francis Xavier University, McMaster University and the University of Toronto. Clearly, MuscleTech is committed to innovation and they have developed some highly effective supplements for building muscle and losing fat. Their latest product is called Anator-P70. Interestingly, the formula of this product is exactly the same as one I recommended in my original recovery drink article published in MD almost two years ago. According to MuscleTech, Dr. Paul Greenhaff of the University of Nottingham has recently completed a research study on Anator-P70 with excellent results. We’ll provide you with the details as soon as this study has been published. The active ingredients in Anator-P70 are whey protein hydrolysate, leucine, phenylalanine, creatine monohydrate and high-glycemic carbohydrates. Whey Protein Hydrolysate: The Ultimate Source of Protein Whey proteins particularly have been singled out as the ultimate source of protein based on an excellent amino acid profile and rapidity of digestion. A recent scientific review by Drs. Hu and Zemel, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, concluded that whey protein supplementation could enhance lean body mass in conjunction with appropriate training. The investigators also pointed out that certain bioactive compounds from whey might improve immune function and gastrointestinal health. Protein can be hydrolyzed (pre-digested), producing small chains of amino acids called peptides. This process mimics our own digestive actions thus making it an ideal way to process protein. Studies indicate that protein hydrolysates containing mostly di- and tri-peptides are absorbed more rapidly than free form amino acids and much more rapidly than intact (nonhydrolyzed) proteins. Obviously, this is a desirable trait for serious athletes who wish to maximize amino acid delivery to the muscle immediately after exercise. It’s the kinetics of the absorption (rather than the net absorption of amino acids) that determines the greater nutritional value of the protein hydrolysates. The purpose of the recent study at the Copenhagen Muscle Research Center was to determine the effects different protein-containing meals (protein hydrolysates versus intact proteins) have on the magnitude and direction of insulin and glucagon responses. A further aim was to determine the rate of appearance of amino acids. This study indicated that: • Ingestion of glucose and protein hydrolysate results in a synergistic and fast increase in blood insulin. • Protein hydrolysates are absorbed at a faster rate from the small intestine than are intact milk proteins. • Whey protein hydrolysate elicited the greatest availability of amino acids during the three-hour postprandial (occurring after a meal) period. The authors suggested that the association of high levels of blood amino acids and insulin might explain a superiority of protein hydrolysates over intact proteins in promoting better nitrogen utilization (i.e., greater anabolism), especially when administered in combination with glucose. Protein Hydrolysate+Leucine+Phenylalanine=Strong Insulin Response In a recent, well-controlled study by Dr. van Loon and colleagues, a total of 10 drinks were tested in eight non-obese males after an overnight fast to investigate the insulinotropic (stimulating the production of insulin) potential of several free amino acids, protein hydrolysates and an intact protein. At zero, 30, 60 and 90 minutes, the subjects received a beverage 3.5 mL/kg to ensure a given dose of 0.8 g/kg carbohydrate (50 percent as glucose and 50 percent as maltodextrin) and 0.4 g/kg of an amino acid and protein hydrolysate mixture every hour. The results of this study indicate that oral ingestion of some amino acid mixtures in combination with carbohydrates can produce strong insulinotropic effects. To compare the insulinotropic effect of the ingestion of the protein hydrolysates with that of an intact protein, sodium-caseinate was provided in one of the drinks. This resulted in an insulin response not significantly different from that found with the control trial (30 percent greater) and tended to be less than the responses observed after ingestion of the protein hydrolysates. After ingestion of the intact protein, blood amino acid responses over this two-hour period were in general lower than the responses observed after ingestion of the protein hydrolysates. Furthermore, regression analysis of the insulin responses and the changes in the blood amino acid concentrations over the two-hour period showed a strong positive correlation between the observed insulin response and changes in blood leucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations. Interestingly, the addition of free glutamine hardly influenced blood glutamine levels. Also, this study clearly shows that oral ingestion of free arginine isn’t an effective means of increasing plasma insulin concentrations and blood arginine concentrations. The authors concluded that oral intake of protein hydrolysates and amino acids in combination with carbohydrates can result in an insulinotropic effect as much as 100 percent greater than with the intake of carbohydrates only. In another excellent study by Dr. van Loon and co-workers, after an overnight fast, eight male cyclists visited a laboratory on five occasions, during which a control and two different beverage compositions in two different doses were tested. After they performed a glycogendepletion exercise, subjects received a beverage (3.5 mL/kg) every 30 minutes ensuring an intake of 1.2 g/kg/h carbohydrate and zero, 0.2 or 0.4 g/kg/h protein hydrolysate and amino acid mixture. After the insulin response was expressed as the area under curve, only the ingestion of the beverages containing protein hydrolysate, leucine and phenylalanine resulted in a marked increase in insulin response compared with the carbohydrate-only trial. Further, a dose-related effect existed because doubling the dose (0.2-0.4 g/kg/h) led to an additional rise in insulin response. Blood leucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine concentrations showed strong correlations with the insulin response. In addition, blood amino acid concentrations were generally lower after the ingestion of drinks containing protein hydrolysate+phenylalanine+leucine compared with the control drinks, although in the latter, a considerable amount of protein and amino acids were ingested. This strongly suggests that tissue amino acid uptake and post-exercise muscle protein anabolism were increased after the ingestion of the protein hydrolysate-amino acid mixture. Leucine: A Superstar of Amino Acids The role of amino acids as substrates for protein synthesis (i.e., building blocks of protein) is well established. However, a function for amino acids in modulating the signal pathways that regulate muscle protein synthesis has only recently been described. The stimulation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle produced by an intake of a mixed meal is due largely to branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine; BCAAs). Of the three BCAAs, leucine is clearly the most effective. In fact, a recent study at Baylor College of Medicine suggests that the postprandial (occurring after meal) rise in leucine, but not isoleucine or valine, acts as a nutrient signal to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. Dr. Crowe and co-workers investigated the effects of leucine supplementation on the exercise performance of outrigger canoeists. Thirteen canoeists underwent testing before and after six weeks of supplementation with either leucine (45 mg/kg/day) or placebo. The conclusion was that “leucine supplementation significantly improved endurance performance and upper body power in outrigger canoeists.” Finally, it was recently proposed that leucine is a key to the metabolic advantage of a higher protein diet because of its unique role in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis, insulin signaling and glucose re-cycling via alanine. Leucine appears to regulate the burning of glucose by skeletal muscle through stimulation of glucose recycling via the glucose-alanine cycle. These mechanisms produce muscle mass sparing and provide a stable blood sugar environment with low insulin responses during energy-restricted diets. Bottom Line In order to make the very best use of the hypermetabolism that exists after strenuous exercise, I highly recommend you ingest a serving of MuscleTech Anator-P70 immediately after exercise. It should maximize protein anabolism and minimize catabolism. The author of this article has no financial relationship with MuscleTech. References: 1. Ha E., Zemel M.B. (2003) Functional properties of whey, whey components and essential amino acids: mechanisms underlying health benefits for active people (review). Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 14:251-8. 2. Di Pasquale, M.G. (1997) Amino Acids and Proteins for the Athlete. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. 3. Bucci, L.R., Unlu, L. (2000) Protein and amino acid supplements in exercise and sport. In: Energy-Yielding Macronutrients and Energy Metabolism in Sports Nutrition, Eds. Wolinsky, I., Driskell, J.A. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, pp. 191-212. 4. Manninen A.H. (2004) Protein hydrolysates in sports and exercise: A brief review. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 3:60-63. 5. van Loon, L.J., Saris, W.H.M., Verhagen, H., Wagenmakers, A.J. (2000) Plasma insulin responses after ingestion of different amino acid or protein mixtures with carbohydrate. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72:96-105. 6. van Loon, L.J., Kruijshoop, M., Verhagen H. et al. (2000) Ingestion of protein hydrolysate and amino acid-carbohydrate mixtures increases postexercise plasma insulin responses in men. Journal of Nutrition, 130:2508-2513. 7. Calbet, J.A.L., MacLean, D.A. (2002) Plasma glucagons and insulin responses depend on the rate of appearance of amino acids after ingestion of different protein solutions in humans. Journal of Nutrition, 132:2174-2182. 8. Kimball, S.R., Jefferson, S.L. (2004) Amino acids as regulators of gene expression. Nutrition & Metabolism, 1:3. 9. Kimball, S.R., Jefferson, S.L. (2006) Signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms through which branched-chain amino acids mediate translational control of protein synthesis. Journal of Nutrition, 136:227S-31S. 10. Escobar J., Frank, JW, Suryawan, A. et al. (2005) Regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle protein synthesis by individual branched-chain amino acids in neonatal pigs. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology & Metabolism, Nov 8; [Epub ahead of print]. 11. Crowe M.J., Weatherson, J.N., Bowden, P.N. (2005) Effects of dietary leucine supplementation on exercise performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology, Oct 29; [Epub ahead of print]. 12. Layman, D.K., Walker, D.A. (2006) Potential importance of leucine in treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Journal of Nutrition, 136:319S-23S.