Background. Ergogenic nutritional supplementation is sought by professional athletes for improving physical performance; nevertheless, scientific evidence to support the chronic use of L-Arginine among water polo players is missing. Methods. Seventeen male professional water polo players were randomly assigned to assume 5 grams per day of L-Arginine () or placebo () for 4 weeks. The players’ fitness level was assessed in the maximal speed swimming test. Ear lobe blood samples taken before and after the effort for serum lactate content were analyzed. A speed-to-lactate ratio was generated at the baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. We also tested the effects of L-Arginine in vitro, measuring NO production, mitochondrial respiration, and gene expression in human fibroblasts. Results. L-Arginine did not modify BMI, muscle strength, and maximal speed at 200 meters after 4 weeks. However, L-Arginine ameliorated oxidative metabolism to exercise as suggested by the statistically significant lower lactate-to-speed ratio, which was not observed in placebo-treated controls. In vitro, L-Arginine induced the expression of a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC1α) and genes encoding for complex I and increased the production of nitric oxide and the maximal oxygen consumption rate. Conclusions. Chronic L-Arginine is safe and effective in ameliorating the oxidative metabolism of professional water polo players, through a mechanism of enhanced mitochondrial function.

Effects of Chronic Supplementation of L-Arginine on Physical Fitness in Water Polo Players / Gambardella, Jessica; Fiordelisi, Antonella; Spigno, Luca; Boldrini, Lorenzo; Lungonelli, Giulia; Di Vaia, Eugenio; Santulli, Gaetano; Sorriento, Daniela; Cerasuolo, Federica Andrea; Trimarco, Valentina; Iaccarino, Guido. - In: OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY. - ISSN 1942-0994. - 2021:(2021), pp. 1-7. [10.1155/2021/6684568]

Effects of Chronic Supplementation of L-Arginine on Physical Fitness in Water Polo Players

Gambardella, Jessica
Investigation
;
Fiordelisi, Antonella
Methodology
;
Di Vaia, Eugenio
Validation
;
Santulli, Gaetano
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Sorriento, Daniela
Investigation
;
Cerasuolo, Federica Andrea
Investigation
;
Trimarco, Valentina
Data Curation
;
Iaccarino, Guido
Ultimo
Funding Acquisition
2021

Abstract

Background. Ergogenic nutritional supplementation is sought by professional athletes for improving physical performance; nevertheless, scientific evidence to support the chronic use of L-Arginine among water polo players is missing. Methods. Seventeen male professional water polo players were randomly assigned to assume 5 grams per day of L-Arginine () or placebo () for 4 weeks. The players’ fitness level was assessed in the maximal speed swimming test. Ear lobe blood samples taken before and after the effort for serum lactate content were analyzed. A speed-to-lactate ratio was generated at the baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. We also tested the effects of L-Arginine in vitro, measuring NO production, mitochondrial respiration, and gene expression in human fibroblasts. Results. L-Arginine did not modify BMI, muscle strength, and maximal speed at 200 meters after 4 weeks. However, L-Arginine ameliorated oxidative metabolism to exercise as suggested by the statistically significant lower lactate-to-speed ratio, which was not observed in placebo-treated controls. In vitro, L-Arginine induced the expression of a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC1α) and genes encoding for complex I and increased the production of nitric oxide and the maximal oxygen consumption rate. Conclusions. Chronic L-Arginine is safe and effective in ameliorating the oxidative metabolism of professional water polo players, through a mechanism of enhanced mitochondrial function.
2021
Effects of Chronic Supplementation of L-Arginine on Physical Fitness in Water Polo Players / Gambardella, Jessica; Fiordelisi, Antonella; Spigno, Luca; Boldrini, Lorenzo; Lungonelli, Giulia; Di Vaia, Eugenio; Santulli, Gaetano; Sorriento, Daniela; Cerasuolo, Federica Andrea; Trimarco, Valentina; Iaccarino, Guido. - In: OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY. - ISSN 1942-0994. - 2021:(2021), pp. 1-7. [10.1155/2021/6684568]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/847389
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 14
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact