The Effects of L-Arginine Consumption on fat and carbohydrate metabolism during high intensity interval exercise in overweight individuals

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-Arginine supplementation on fat and carbohydrate metabolism during high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in overweight individuals.

Ten male overweight students performed two HIIE trials including 10 intervals of 3 min encompassed 1 min running at 100% of vVO2max and 2 min active recovery at 40% of vVO2max. In each session subjects consumed either supplement or placebo 90 min prior to exercise. Before and after supplementation and immediately after exercise glucose, insulin, non-esterified free fatty acid (NEFA) and triglyceride were measured. Oxygen consumption and exhaled carbon dioxide were collected to calculate fat and carbohydrate oxidation.

There were no significant differences between two trials for glucose, insulin, NEFA, triglyceride and fat oxidation (P>0.05). However, carbohydrate oxidation rate was significantly different between two sessions (p < 0.05). In addition, glucose and carbohydrate oxidation were significantly increased following HIIE irrespective of L-Arginine supplementation (p < 0.05).

Based on the findings of present study it could be concluded that L-Arginine supplementation leads to increases in carbohydrate oxidation during HIIE in overweight men, but has no effect on resting at metabolism.