Sean A McCleary

The effects of probiotic supplementation on lean body mass, strength, and power, and health indicators in resistance trained males: a pilot study

Background While growing evidence suggests beneficial effects of probiotics on the gut-brain-axis, only a limited number of studies have investigated the impact of gut microbiota modulation on muscle physiology (gut-muscle-axis). The probiotic BC30 (Ganeden Biotech Inc., Maryfield Heights, OH) has been shown to increase protein absorption and the anabolic potential of a respective protein source has been directly linked to peak plasma leucine levels. Postworkout administration of slow digesting proteins such as casein show inferior results on muscle protein synthesis in comparison to fast absorbed proteins such as whey. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if the co-administration of a probiotic with a slow digested protein has a beneficial effect on body composition, performance, and measures of perceived health. Methods 10 healthy resistance-trained individuals volunteered to participate in this study (mean+/-SD; age: 22.0 ± 2.4 yr; height: 181.8 ± 4.1 cm; weight: 85.6 ± 12.9 kg). Subjects were randomly assigned to consume either 20g of casein (Control = CON) or 20g of casein plus probiotic (500M BC30, =BC30) twice daily. Subjects were instructed to consume one serving in the morning upon waking while the second serving was consumed after training or before bed on non-training days. With assistance from a dietician, macronutrients were controlled to 50% carbohydrate, 25% protein, and 25% fat between groups using the Mifflin-St Jeor formula. Subjects performed full body workouts 4-times per week for 8 weeks consisting of hypertrophy (8-12 RM loads and 60 seconds rest), and strength (1-5 RM loads with 3-5 minutes rest) under supervision of the researchers in order to ensure compliance. Body composition (Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry; DXA), quadriceps thickness (ultrasound), peak power (Monark Wingate Cycle), vertical jump power (Tendo unit), 1-RM bench press, and 1-RM leg press were measured at baseline and after the eighth week of supplementation. Perceived GI health (GSRS) was measured weekly and upper respiratory health (WURSS-21) daily. Consent to publish the results was obtained from all participants.

The effects of a myostatin inhibitor on lean body mass, strength, and power in resistance trained males

Background Myostatin is considered an inhibitor of satellite cell activation and as a result skeletal muscle hypertrophy. One promising supplement which has suppressed blood levels of myostatin by 44% is a proprietary bioactive ingredient, Myo-T12, which is follistatin derived from fertile chicken egg yolk isolate. MyoT12 would therefore theoretically enhance skeletal muscle growth. However this remains to be examined. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MyoT12 on skeletal muscle growth and strength in recreationally trained individuals.

The effects of a multi-ingredient cognitive formula on alertness, focus, motivation, calmness and psychomotor performance in comparison to caffeine and placebo

Caffeine increased alertness (+19%), focus (+35%), cognition (+26%), memory (+11%), motivation (+10%) and vertical jump power (+1%), however, decreased calmness by 18%. MindSet increased alertness (56%), focus (58%), motivation (43%), cognition (26%), memory (+15%), vertical jump power (3%), and calmness by 6%. Conclusion A stimulant-free multi-ingredient pre-workout formula can be as effective as caffeine in increasing cognitive functioning without the unwanted side-effects. The results of this pilot study should be confirmed in a larger scale study.

The effects of ketogenic dieting on skeletal muscle and fat mass

Background Very low carbohydrate ( 70 %) ketogenic diets (VLCKD) diets have previously been shown to have favorable changes in body composition (increased lean mass and decreased fat mass) in obese or overweight individuals. However, the impact of this form of dieting relative to a traditional high carbohydrate diet has not yet been investigated in resistance trained athletes. PURPOSE: Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of VLCKD verses a traditional western diet on changes in muscle and fat mass.

Impact of glycogen resynthesis on lean mass

Background It has frequently been demonstrated that resistance training has a negative effect on muscle glycogen content. Additionally, the rate of resynthesis seems to be dependent upon the degree of depletion. However, the impact of glycogen resynthesis on lean mass in a resistance trained population consuming a very low carbohydrate diet has yet to be examined. This has important implications for athletic populations as body composition appears to be related to performance]. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of glycogen resynthesis on body composition in resistance trained individuals consuming a ketogenic diet.

Phosphatidic acid supplementation increases skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength

The accretion of skeletal muscle tissue can be critical for a varied population including athletes and elderly. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy is largely mediated through increased muscle protein synthesis. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been shown to regulate rates of muscle protein synthesis and a mechanical stimulus (resistance exercise) has been shown to activate mTOR with the phospholipid Phosphatidic Acid (PA) playing a key role. A first pilot study found that oral supplementation with soy-derived PA in athletes undergoing progressive resistance training very likely resulted in greater increases in squat strength and lean mass over the placebo. However, this pilot study was likely underpowered, the workout was not supervised and no direct measures of skeletal muscle hypertrophy were taken. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PA on body composition, strength, power and muscular hypertrophy.

Effects of a ketogenic diet on strength and power

Background The effects of a LCKD on endurance performance has been investigated several times, and it has already received a review. For this type of activity, no decrements in performance are observed once the participants are adjusted to the diet. However, LCKD’s are yet to be investigated in a resistance training model. One study has examined strength in relation to a LCKD, finding no decrements, yet this study failed to incorporate a well-controlled training protocol.

The effects of t-bomb II on lean body mass and hormonal profile in resistance trained athletes

Background Periodization describes an organized approach to training variation throughout a given year. For competitive athletes this typically includes and offseason, pre-season and inseason. The offseason is meant to build muscle, increase power, strength and endurance. However, the season brings on stress that can negatively impact body composition via decreasing lean body mass (LBM). One general cause may be a decline in anabolic hormones, particularly testosterone. T Bomb II is a product made by Maximum Human Performance, INC. (MHP). It is a proprietary blend of ingredients such as fenugreek extract which has been shown to elevate testosterone levels. PURPOSE: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the 6 week impact of T Bomb II (TB) supplementation on the ability to maintain testosterone and LBM during season.

Safety of soy-derived phosphatidic acid supplementation in healthy young males

Background The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been shown to regulate rates of muscle protein synthesis, and one novel nutritional activator of mTOR is the phospholipid Phosphatidic Acid (PA). We have recently found that PA supplementation over 8 weeks of resistance training augmented responses in skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength. However, we are unaware of research investigating the safety of PA in human subjects. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of 750 mg per day of PA supplementation on safety parameters in healthy college aged males.

Comparison of rice and whey protein osolate digestion rate and amino acid absorption

Background Athletes have a choice of different animal (e.g. whey, casein, egg, beef, fish) or plant protein (e.g. soy, rice, pea, hemp) sources, which differ in numerous ways such as the presence of allergens (lactose, soy), cholesterol, saturated fats, digestion rate (fast, intermediate, or slow absorption of amino acids), or the relative amount of individual amino acids. While digestibility of rice protein isolate (RPI) in rats has been shown to be inferior to animal protein (87% vs. 97% for casein), administration of 48 grams of RPI following resistance exercise decreased fat-mass and increased lean body mass, skeletal muscle hypertrophy, power and strength comparable to whey protein isolate (WPI). This study sought to investigate the amino acid rate of appearance in the blood of 48 grams of RPI compared to 48 grams of WPI.