A new medical study of AlfaHICA has been released ! Read here more about it .
Effects of a-Hydroxyisocaproic Acid on Body Composition, DOMS and Performance in Athletes
Antti A. Mero, Tuomo Ojala, Juha Hulmi, Timo Seppälä, Tuomo Karila.
Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Hospital Orton, Helsinki, Finland
Drug Research Unit, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
a-Hydroxyisocaproic acid (a-HICA) is an end product of leucine metabolism in human tissues such as muscle and connective tissue. According to the clinical and experimental studies, aHICA can be considered as an anti-catabolic substance.
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a-HICA supplementation on body composition, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and physical performance of athletes during a training period.
METHODS: Fifteen healthy male football players (age 22.1±3.9 yr) volunteered for the 4-week double-blind study during an intensive training period. The subjects in the group HICA (n=8) received 583 mg of sodium salt of a-HICA (corresponding 500 mg of a-HICA) mixed with liquid three times a day for 4 weeks, and those in the group PLACEBO (n=7) received matching placebo (650 mg of maltodextrin mixed with liquid) similarly. According to their training schedule, the volunteers practiced football four times a week, performed strength training two times a week and had one football game a week during the study. The subjects kept diaries on training, food and symptoms of DOMS. Body composition was evaluated with DEXA before and after the study. Strength and running velocity were measured with field tests. Statistical comparisons were made using ANOVA.
RESULTS: a-HICA supplementation increased significantly lean whole body mass (p<0.001) and whole body muscle mass (p<0.01) while fat mass remained constant compared to placebo. The muscle mass of lower extremities increased in the HICA group by 400 g, and it decreased by 150 g in the PLACEBO group, on the average. The a-HICA supplementation decreased significantly (p<0.01) whole body DOMS symptoms in the 4th week of the treatment when compared to placebo. Strength and running velocity did not differ between the groups.
CONCLUSION: The a-HICA supplementation increases muscle mass and decreases muscle soreness during an intensive training period.
Read more about the study on the section alfaHICA-product/ Research and studies