ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2017 January-February;176(1-2):41-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.16.03289-7

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Glutamine supplementation and anaerobic power outputs of handball players

Heidar SAJEDI ✉

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Ataturk, Erzurum, Turkey

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of glutamine supplementation on peak and mean anaerobic power output.
METHODS: Handball players (n=40) playing in the Erzurum Aziziye Municipality handball team volunteered for this study. Weight and height of the players were measured and the age range was between 17-24 years old (20.7±4.3). The Experimental Group (n=20) was given glutamine treatment of 0.3g/kg/day of glutamine for a period of six weeks and the Control Group (n=20) had no treatment. Each participant performed the Wingate Test on a Monark 894e arm ergometer. Peak power and mean power were determined as the highest and average power achieved during any 30s of the test.
RESULTS: There was a significant effect (p<0.05) of the supplementation on Wmax producing a higher value post-test than the pre-test. The glutamine supplement had significant effects (p<0.05) on the mean and peak power under anaerobic circumstances. Blood lactate analysis showed that glutamine consumption modifies the amount of blood lactate. The results of this study confirm previous reports of a significant effect of glutamine supplementation on Wmax and blood lactate. It concluded to suggest other dosages of glutamine should be investigated, especially as it relates to the blood lactate decreasing after exercise.
CONCLUSIONS: Further research could assess the influence of glutamine intake and intensive physical exercise involving athletes of other sports and using other performance traits, such as athletic skill elements.

KEY WORDS: Anaerobic threshold - Lactates - Glutamine