Oral Supplementation Using Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Whey Protein Improves Whole Body Fat-Free Mass in Men After Resistance Training.
Background
Oral gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation increases growth hormone (GH) serum levels and protein synthesis. Therefore, post-exercise supplementation using GABA and protein may help enhance training-induced muscle hypertrophy. We evaluated whether GABA with whey protein enhanced muscular hypertrophy in men after progressive resistance training.


Methods
Twenty-one healthy men (26 - 48 years) were randomized to receive whey protein (WP; 10 g) or whey protein + GABA (WP + GABA; 10 g + 100 mg) daily for 12 weeks. Both groups performed resistance training twice per week (three sets of 12 repetitions at 60% of maximal strength; leg press, leg extension, leg curl, chest press, and pull down). Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.


Results
In the WP + GABA group, resting plasma GH concentrations were significantly elevated at 4 and 8 weeks, compared to baseline. However, resting plasma GH concentrations in the WP group were only significantly elevated at 8 weeks. After 12 weeks, the WP + GABA group exhibited significantly greater increase in whole body fat-free mass than the WP group.


Conclusions
The GABA and whey protein combination was more effective for increasing whole body fat-free mass; daily GABA supplementation may help enhance exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy.
['Sakashita|Maya|M|', 'Nakamura|Utano|U|', 'Horie|Noriko|N|', 'Yokoyama|Yasuhiro|Y|', 'Kim|Mujo|M|', 'Fujita|Satoshi|S|']
Supplementation Gamma-aminobutyric acid Whey protein Protein Resistance training