Glutamine Helps Prevent Muscle Atrophy - Sodium & Exercise

Skeletal muscle is in a near constant state of buildup and breakdown. Hormones, muscle tension, nutrients end genes play critical roles in determining whether muscles get larger, smaller or stay the same size. Corticosteroids, stress hormones produced in the adrenal glands, and the myostatin gene stimulate muscle breakdown, while testosterone, growth hormone and IGF-1 stimulate muscle growth.

Researchers from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, in a study on rats, found that glutamine supplements prevented muscle atrophy (decrease in muscle size) triggered by glucocorticoids by suppressing the myostatin gene. This gene prevents muscle growth and promotes muscle atrophy. Intense bodybuilding training stimulates glucocorticoid release, which promotes muscle break down. Glutamine supplements may help you recover more quickly and increase muscle size faster by preventing muscle breakdown after training and promoting muscle hypertrophy.

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCOa)

The stuff found in Arm & Hammer baking soda - increases maximal exercise performance in events lasting 45 seconds to 2 minutes. It works by increasing blood buffering capacity- the ability to dispose of acids in the blood that can interfere with metabolism and cause fatigue. Greek researchers found that NaHCO3 administered to college-aged men (nonathietes) increased sprint cycling capacity (Wingate test) and increased the capacity to withstand metabolic acids.

The effects were dose related - a higher dose increased exercise capacity more than a low dose. In spite of the many studies finding beneficial effects, soda loading hasn't caught on because of its nasty side effects such as nausea, intestinal cramps, gas and diarrhea.