Download Supplement Performance By Anssi H. Manninen, MHS GAKIC

Supplement Performance
By Anssi H. Manninen, MHS
GAKIC – Advanced Muscle Fatigue Toxin Reducer
Sports Supplement Product Review
"Perhaps the only thing that saves science from invalid conventional
wisdom that becomes effectively permanent is the presence of mavericks
in every generation— people who keep challenging convention and
thinking up new ideas for the sheer hell of it, or from an innate
contrariness." — Dr. D. M. Raup, Paleontologist, University of Chicago
We sense fatigue when we exercise to the point where we feel the task
requires greater effort than it should. Fortunately, certain sports supplements
have anti-fatigue properties. For example, it's as clear as a bottle of Finlandia
Vodka® that muscle creatine phosphate depletion leads to fatigue1,2 and
creatine supplementation can increase creatine phosphate concentration.3
Consequently, creatine supplementation improves maximal power/strength,
work performed during sets of maximal effort muscle contractions, single-effort
sprint performance and work performed during repetitive sprint performance.3
It’s also well established that carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged
exercise can delay fatigue. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that
traditional sports drinks containing only carbohydrates (e.g., Gatorade®) are old
news, as recent studies show the addition of protein to a carbohydrate
supplement enhances endurance performance above that which occurred with
carbohydrate alone.10,11 There are also numerous studies indicating that
caffeine improves concentration, reduces fatigue and enhances alertness.12
The latest anti-fatigue supplement is glycine-arginine-alphaketoisocaproic acid (GAKIC), which was recently launched by MuscleTech
Research and Development (i.e., Iovate Health Sciences, Inc.). This article
provides the latest scientific facts on GAKIC supplementation and some
product-specific information on MuscleTech GAKIC.™
What the Heck is GAKIC, Anyway?
GAKIC is a glycine and arginine monohydrochloride salt of alpha
ketoisocaproic acid calcium.
Alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) is a keto acid of leucine (a branchedchain amino acid). Branched-chain keto acids (BCKAs) are very similar to
branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs); the only difference is the presence of a
keto group instead of an amino group. Thus, BCKAs can be viewed as
ammonia-free sources of BCAAs.
KIC is anti-catabolic, particularly during catabolic states6 and it stimulates
insulin secretion. Since any intense, strenuous activity is also catabolic, some
feel there is every reason to believe KIC will prove to be of value to
bodybuilders, power lifters and aerobic athletes.6 Further, BCKAs are essential
for energy production in muscle and for the detoxification (removal) of ammonia.
During high-intensity exercise such as resistance training, ammonia is produced
in large quantities; it has also been suggested that ammonia plays a role in
fatigue.6
KIC is metabolized further to alpha-amino-n-butyrate and beta-hydroxybeta-methylbutyrate (HMB), a compound popularized by Bill Philips. Although
HMB certainly does not feel like Deca, a recent meta-analysis (quantitative
statistical analysis applied to separate, but similar, experiments) found that
HMB supplementation led to a net increase in lean body mass (0.28 percent per
week) and strength gains (1.4 percent per week). However, the overall effect of
these changes was less than 0.2; such changes are considered small.9 To my
knowledge, alpha-amino-n-butyrate has not, as yet, been investigated in
humans for its anabolic and anti-catabolic properties, but it may have some
anabolic and/or anti-catabolic effects.
Glycine is a non-essential amino acid. It has been shown to increase
growth hormone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. For example, Dr. Kasai
and co-workers reported that oral administration of 6.75 grams of glycine to 19
human subjects increased growth hormone levels significantly for three hours,
peaking at three to four times baseline at two hours.7
Further, glycine plays a role as an excitatory neurotransmitter. A
neurotransmitter is a chemical contained in synaptic vesicles in nerve endings
that is released into the synaptic cleft, where it causes the production of either
excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.
Finally, glycine, when used with arginine, has been shown to increase
endogenous creatine levels by increasing creatine synthesis.6 A number of
studies using glycine for the alleviation of fatigue were done in the 1930s and
1940s, but the results were minimal.8
Arginine. Normally, a nonessential amino acid in humans, arginine is
considered essential under certain conditions. Arginine has a significant role in
nitrogen detoxification and has been shown to be beneficial in various diseases,
including diseases of the liver, in which ammonia levels are extremely high.6 As
noted above, it’s suggested that ammonia plays a role in fatigue.
The GAKIC Patent
According to U.S. Patent Number 6,100,287 ("Materials and methods for
enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue”):
1. GAKIC treatment increases the ability to sustain athletic muscle force during
intense anaerobic muscle exercise;
2. GAKIC treatment increases the ability to sustain athletic muscle work during
intense anaerobic muscle exercise; and
3. GAKIC increases overall muscle performance by decreasing muscle
absolute fatigue while retarding the rate of muscle fatigue.
Review of GAKIC Studies
The purpose of the first GAKIC study by Dr. Bruce Stevens and
colleagues at the University of Florida was to quantify the effects of GAKIC
supplementation on human muscle dynamic performance (strength, work,
fatigue) measured under conditions of acute, exhaustive, high-intensity,
anaerobic, isokinetic exercise.4
Thirteen healthy men were orally administered 355 milliliters of lowcalorie cranberry juice containing either 11.20 grams of freshly dissolved,
powdered GAKIC, or 9.46 grams of sugar isocaloric control. This was
consumed in three equal aliquots (parts of a whole) over 45 minutes.
The results demonstrated that GAKIC supplementation significantly
improved performance compared to control isocaloric sugar treatment. The
authors summarized the salient findings as follows:
1. GAKIC increased the ability to sustain muscle force (concentric torque) up to
28 percent during intense acute anaerobic muscle exercise;
2. GAKIC increased the ability to sustain muscle total work up to 12 percent
during intense anaerobic muscle exercise; and
3. GAKIC increased the overall muscle performance by delaying muscle
fatigue during the early phases of anaerobic exercise through 15 minutes.
The purpose of the second GAKIC study by Drs. Britni Buford and
Alexander Koch at Truman State University was to determine the effects of
GAKIC supplementation on repeated bouts of anaerobic cycling performance.5
Again, subjects (10 healthy men) consumed the treatment beverage (GAKIC or
sugar) in three equal aliquots over a 45-minute period. The dosing regimen
employed was identical to the first study by Dr. Stevens and co-workers.
The results of this second study indicate that GAKIC supplementation
significantly reduces the drop in mean power output associated with repeated
sprints of anaerobic cycling. The authors concluded, “These findings reinforce
the notion that GAKIC supplementation may be a useful aid for strength-power
athletes, similar to creatine supplementation. Unlike creatine, which requires
approximately five days of loading to produce improvements in high-intensity
work, GAKIC appears to impart an ergogenic effect within minutes of
consumption.”
Finally, the third GAKIC-related study by Dr. Joshua Yarrow and coworkers determined whether ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) alone affects anaerobic
exercise performance.13 Fourteen gym rats participated in this double-blind,
placebo-controlled study. All subjects were pre-tested for maximal strength (1RM) and muscular endurance (50 percent of 1-RM repetitions to muscular
failure). Following supplementation (1.5 grams of KIC, nine grams of KIC or
isocaloric placebo), subjects completed chest press and leg press muscular
endurance testing. Results indicated that KIC supplementation 45 minutes prior
to resistance training did not improve muscular endurance.
MuscleTech GAKIC™
MuscleTech GAKIC caplets: The bottle contains 128 caplets and the
serving size is eight caplets (10.2 grams of GAKIC). Thus, one container
supplies 16 servings. The bottle contains a one-month supply for someone who
works out four times per week.
MuscleTech GAKIC powder: The bottle contains 544 grams of powder.
The serving size is one scoop (about 34 grams), so one container supplies 16
servings. One serving contains 10.2 grams of GAKIC and 24 grams of
carbohydrates. Again, the bottle contains a one-month supply for someone who
works out four times per week.
MuscleTech recommends that GAKIC only be used when you work out
and at no other time. I agree with this recommendation. It doesn’t make sense
to ingest anti-fatigue supplements while watching TV!
Bottom Line
Although more research is needed before a firm conclusion can be
drawn, GAKIC appears to be a very effective anti-fatigue supplement. Give it a
try and let us know how it works.
Editor’s Note: The author of this article has no financial relationship with
MuscleTech.
References
1. Brook GA, Fahey TD, White TP, Baldwin KM (2000) Fatigue during
muscular exercise. In: Human Bioenergetics and Its Applications. New York:
McGraw-Hill, pp. 800-822.
2. Greenhaff PL, Casey A, Constantin-Teodosiu D, Tzintzas K (1999) Energy
metabolism of skeletal muscle fiber types and the metabolic basis of fatigue
in humans. In: Hargreaves M, Thompson M, eds. Biochemistry of Exercise
X. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, pp. 275-287.
3. Kreider RB. Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training
adaptations. Mol Cell Biochem, 2003;244:89-94.
4. Stevens BR, Godfrey MD, Kaminski TW, Braith RW. High-intensity dynamic
human muscle performance enhanced by a metabolic intervention. Med Sci
Sports Exerc, 2000;32:2102-2108.
5. Buford BN, Koch AJ. Glycine-arginine- -ketoisocaproic acid improves
performance of repeated cycling sprints. Med Sci Sports Exerc,
2004;36:583-587.
6. Di Pasquale MG (1997) Amino Acids and Proteins for the Athlete: The
Anabolic Edge. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
7. Kasai K, Kobayashi M, Shimoda S. Stimulatory effect of glycine on human
growth hormone secretion. Metabolism, 1978;27:201-204.
8. Bucci LR (1993) Nutrients as Ergogenic Aids in Sports and Exercise. Boca
Raton, FL: CRC Press.
9. Nissen SL, Sharp RL. Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and
strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis. J Appl Physiol,
2003;94:651-659.
10. Ivy JL, Res PT, Sprague RC, Widzer MO. Effect of a carbohydrate-protein
supplement on endurance performance during exercise of varying intensity.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 2003;13:382-95.
11. Saunders MJ, Kane MD, Todd MK. Effects of a carbohydrate-protein
beverage on cycling endurance and muscle damage. Med Sci Sports Exerc,
2004;36:1233-8.
12. Paluska SA. Caffeine and exercise. Curr Sports Med Rep, 2004;2:213-219.
13. Yarrow JF, Stevens BR, Parr JJ, Borsa PA. The effects of ketoisocaproic
acid supplementation alone on muscular endurance. Med Sci Sports Exerc,
2005;37: Supp May p. S348 (abstract).