ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to examine whether the administration of aspartic acid salts prior to high-volume weight training exercise reduced symptoms associated with fatigue and altered the concentration of plasma ammonia. The subjects were nine males with mean (± SEM) age of 26.6 ± 2.4 years, height of 175.5 ± 2.8 centimeters, and body weight of 87.2 ± 5.1 kilograms. The weight training session consisted of performing five sets of 10 repetitions of the squat (with three additional warm-up sets) at 90 percent of the highest weight squatted for three sets of 10 repetitions. There were two weight training sessions a week apart; one placebo session and one aspartate session. The placebo substance was sugarless vitamin C powder. During each session, oxygen consumption, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. There were no significant differences between sessions for these variables. Lactate, ammonia, hematocrit and hemoglobin were measured from blood samples drawn via venipuncture at rest, immediately after exercise, and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after exercise. Although there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the immediate postexercise values and the resting values, and the immediate postexercise values and the 60-minute postexercise values for lactate and ammonia, there were no significant differences between the placebo and aspartate sessions. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that aspartates are not effective in reducing indices of fatigue associated with weight training exercise or significantly altering plasma ammonia concentrations.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the administration of aspartic acid salts prior to high-volume weight training exercise reduced symptoms associated with fatigue and altered the concentration of plasma ammonia. The subjects were nine males with mean (± SEM) age of 26.6 ± 2.4 years, height of 175.5 ± 2.8 centimeters, and body weight of 87.2 ± 5.1 kilograms. The weight training session consisted of performing five sets of 10 repetitions of the squat (with three additional warm-up sets) at 90 percent of the highest weight squatted for three sets of 10 repetitions. There were two weight training sessions a week apart; one placebo session and one aspartate session. The placebo substance was sugarless vitamin C powder. During each session, oxygen consumption, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. There were no significant differences between sessions for these variables. Lactate, ammonia, hematocrit and hemoglobin were measured from blood samples drawn via venipuncture at rest, immediately after exercise, and 15, 30 and 60 minutes after exercise. Although there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between the immediate postexercise values and the resting values, and the immediate postexercise values and the 60-minute postexercise values for lactate and ammonia, there were no significant differences between the placebo and aspartate sessions. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that aspartates are not effective in reducing indices of fatigue associated with weight training exercise or significantly altering plasma ammonia concentrations.
© 1990 National Strength and Conditioning Association
