Keto analogue and amino acid supplementation affects the ammonaemia response during exercise under ketogenic conditions.

AbstractHyperammonaemia is related to both central and peripheral fatigue during exercise. Hyperammonaemia in response to exercise can bereduced through supplementation with either amino acids or combined keto analogues and amino acids (KAAA). In the present study,we determined the effect of short-term KAAA supplementation on ammonia production in subjects eating a low-carbohydrate diet whoexercise. A total of thirteen male cyclists eating a ketogenic diet for 3d were divided into two groups receiving either KAAA (KEx) orlactose (control group; LEx) supplements. Athletes cycled indoors for 2h, and blood samples were obtained at rest, during exercise andover the course of 1h during the recovery period. Exercise-induced ammonaemia increased to a maximum of 35% in the control group,but no significant increase was observed in the supplemented group. Both groups had a significant increase (approximately 35%) inuraemia in response to exercise. The resting urate levels of the two groups were equivalent and remained statistically unchanged inthe KEx group after 90min of exercise; an earlier increase was observed in the LEx group. Glucose levels did not change, eitherduring the trial time or between the groups. An increase in lactate levels was observed during the first 30min of exercise in bothgroups, but there was no difference between the groups. The present results suggest that the acute use of KAAA diminishes exer-cise-induced hyperammonaemia.Key words: Ammonia: Uric acid: Ketogenic diet: Endurance