Effect of arginine supplementation on O2 uptake kinetics response in female taekwondo athletes

Introdiction and Aim: Nowadays, due to the epidemic of sports supplements, the effects of these supplements on athletic performance require analysis and evaluation.The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of arginine supplementation for one week on oxygen uptake kinetics and time to exhaustion in female taekwondo athletes. Method: In this semi-experimental study with pretest – posttest design, eighty female taekwondo athletes (age: 19.88±2.33 y, height: 167.53±6.04 cm, weight: 60.98±2.4 kg) were randomly assigned to argenine supplementation (n=9) or placebo (n=9) groups. Subjects performed the incremental test (initially, the work load 50 watts and 30 watts increase in workload every minutes, as long as subjects will be able to maintain the highest pedal rate and the failure to reach). To simulate a taekwondo match day test session consisted of three maximal incremental test intervals (1 to 2 hours). The experimental group was supplemented with 6g arginine powder and placebo group received 6g microcrystalline cellulose each day for one week. Seven days after, post test accordingly pretest was used by all subjects. Pulmonary gas exchange was measured by gas analyzer to breath-by breath method. Oxygen uptake kinetics variables (oxygen deficit, time constant 1, time constant 2) were evaluated by gas analyzer with breath-by breath method. Data was analyzed using two ways ANOVA. Results: The time to exhaustion was extended following consumption of arginine (p<0.05). Also the findings showed that arginine supplementation resulted in a speeding of the oxygen uptake kinetic (oxygen deficit, time constant 1, time constant 2) (p<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that arginine supplementation improves oxygen kinetics factors and time to exhaustion in female taekwondo athletes.