Chronic L-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise Performance, Blood Lactate, and Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Resistance-Trained Males

Background: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of Chronic L-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise Performance, Blood Lactate, and Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Resistance-Trained Males Materials and Methods: We examined ۳۵ resistance-trained (۱y) male participants (۲۵±۲y, ۷۹.۸±۸.۹ kg, ۱۶.۱±۵.۵۳% body fat) for ۹-wk of L-carnitine supplementation in conjunction with resistance training on exercise performance, blood lactate, and exercise-induced oxidative stress. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind treatment of a (۱) no intervention, no supplement Control (CON, n=۱۲), (۲) maltodextrose Placebo (PLA, ۲ g/d, n=۱۱) or (۳) L-carnitine (LCR, ۲ g/d, n=۱۲). Exercise performance, post-exercise blood lactate (BL) and oxidative stress markers were analyzed at weeks ۳, ۶, and ۹. The PLA and LCR groups followed a specific resistance training program (۴ d/w, upper body/lower body split) for a ۹-wk. Data were analyzed by GLM and presented as mean (SD) or change (۹۵% CI). Primary outcomes were total lifting volume for the bench (BP) and leg press (LP). Results: The results a significant increase in BP lifting volume at wk-۶ (۱۳۹ kg, ۹۵% CI ۴۹.۱, ۲۳۰) and wk-۹ (۲۳۸ kg, ۹۵% CI ۱۳۲, ۳۴۳) for LCR. Similar results were observed for LP. We also observed a significant increase in Wingate mean power (۶۳.۴ W, ۹۵% CI ۳۰.۵, ۹۶.۳) and peak power (۲۳۹ W/kg, ۹۵% CI ۱۰۴, ۳۷۴) at wk-۹ for LCR as well as a significant reduction in post-exercise BL levels and oxidative stress responses. No differences were observed in body composition. Conclusion: These findings indicate that LCR supplementation improves exercise performance and attenuates the blood lactate and oxidative stress response to resistance training.

Keywords:

Antioxidant , L-Carnitine , lactate , oxidative stress , resistance training