doi no.: 05-2016-44975451, DOI Link :: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/12.2022-69362235/IJPESAS/05.2016-44975451/V12/I3/A2

AFFILIATIONS:         

1. Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, AllamehGhazvini Higher Education Institute, Iran
2. Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Corresponding Author: Siamak Ghadimi, Department of Physical  Education  and  Sports  Sciences, Allameh Ghazvini Higher Education Institute, Qazvin, Iran. tufourdaniel@gmail.com. +989120046884

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of glutamine consumption on muscle strength and circumference of upper-arm and thigh muscles in young adult male boxers. It has been hypothesized that glutamine is utilized for muscle growth and protection against muscle breakdown and muscle tissue loss, and can thus improve muscle growth and performance of athletes. Method: This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in which 30 physically active non-smoker male boxers were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups of 15 participants; control and glutamine groups. The participants underwent boxing workout protocol 3 times a week for a period of 8 weeks, and pretest and posttest forearm and thigh muscle strength and circumference were recorded. Participants in the glutamine group received glutamine supplement at 0.15 g / kg body mass plus 0.15 g of maltodextrin/kg of body mass and participants in the control group received 0.30 g maltodextrin/ kg body mass 30 minutes before each training session. Posttest measurements were compared between glutamine and control groups. Results: There were significant differences in the average forearm and thigh muscle strengths between the glutamine group and control group after 8 weeks of training (P<0.005), but no significant differences were observed when forearm and thigh circumferences were compared between the two groups (p>0.005).   Conclusion: Our results show that taking glutamine supplements for boxing training can increase thigh and upper-arm muscle strength. Also, glutamine supplements alone may not be sufficient for increasing upper-arm and thigh circumference in male boxers in a short period of time.

Keywords: Boxing, Glutamine, Lower extremity, Upper extremity,  muscles, strength, circumference.

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