Acute Ingestion Of L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate Fails To Improve Muscular Strength And Endurance In ROTC Cadets

L-Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG) is purported to stimulate the release of nitric oxide, and is suggested to facilitate muscular performance by increasing blood flow and increase oxygen and nutrient delivery to the working muscle. However, the ergogenic benefit of AAKG during resistance exercise has not been established. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute AAKG ingestion in active ROTC Cadets on measures of one-repetition maximal strength (1RM) and muscular endurance. Nineteen apparently healthy males ingested either AAKG (3 g) or a placebo 45 minutes prior to resistance testing in a randomized, double-blind crossover design. Initially, blood lactate (BLA) was obtained followed by 1RM testing on the barbell bench press and leg press. Upon determination of 1RM, participants completed repetitions to failure at 60% of 1RM. Blood lactate measures were immediately taken following the final repetition. Analysis revealed no significant differences between the conditions for bench press 1RM. Additionally, there were no differences between conditions for 1RM leg press, or for number of repetitions performed for the bench press or leg press. Blood lactate values did increase significantly from baseline to post-bench press in both the AAKG (t33 = 7.56, p < 0.01) and placebo conditions (t33 = 8.45, p < 0.01). Further, BLA lactate levels were also significantly greater post leg-press in the AAKG (t33 = 9.23, p < 0.01) and placebo (t33 = 8.10, p < 0.01). The results indicate that acute AAKG supplementation provides no ergogenic benefit in this study.