Supplement Performance - GAKIC – Advanced Muscle Fatigue Toxin Reducer Sports Supplement Product Review "Perhaps the only thing that saves science from invalid conventional wisdom that becomes effectively permanent is the presence of mavericks in every generation— people who keep challenging convention and thinking up new ideas for the sheer hell of it, or from an innate contrariness." — Dr. D. M. Raup, Paleontologist, University of Chicago We sense fatigue when we exercise to the point where we feel the task requires greater effort than it should. Fortunately, certain sports supplements have anti-fatigue properties. For example, it's as clear as a bottle of Finlandia Vodka® that muscle creatine phosphate depletion leads to fatigue1,2 and creatine supplementation can increase creatine phosphate concentration.3 Consequently, creatine supplementation improves maximal power/strength, work performed during sets of maximal effort muscle contractions, single-effort sprint performance and work performed during repetitive sprint performance.3 It’s also well established that carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged exercise can delay fatigue. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that traditional sports drinks containing only carbohydrates (e.g., Gatorade®) are old news, as recent studies show the addition of protein to a carbohydrate supplement enhances endurance performance above that which occurred with carbohydrate alone.10,11 There are also numerous studies indicating that caffeine improves concentration, reduces fatigue and enhances alertness.12 The latest anti-fatigue supplement is glycine-arginine-alphaketoisocaproic acid (GAKIC), which was recently launched by MuscleTech Research and Development (i.e., Iovate Health Sciences, Inc.). This article provides the latest scientific facts on GAKIC supplementation and some product-specific information on MuscleTech GAKIC.™ What the Heck is GAKIC, Anyway? GAKIC is a glycine and arginine monohydrochloride salt of alpha ketoisocaproic acid calcium. Alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) is a keto acid of leucine (a branchedchain amino acid). Branched-chain keto acids (BCKAs) are very similar to branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs); the only difference is the presence of a keto group instead of an amino group. Thus, BCKAs can be viewed as ammonia-free sources of BCAAs. KIC is anti-catabolic, particularly during catabolic states6 and it stimulates insulin secretion. Since any intense, strenuous activity is also catabolic, some feel there is every reason to believe KIC will prove to be of value to bodybuilders, power lifters and aerobic athletes.6 Further, BCKAs are essential for energy production in muscle and for the detoxification (removal) of ammonia. During high-intensity exercise such as resistance training, ammonia is produced in large quantities; it has also been suggested that ammonia plays a role in fatigue.6 KIC is metabolized further to alpha-amino-n-butyrate and beta-hydroxybeta- methylbutyrate (HMB), a compound popularized by Bill Philips. Although HMB certainly does not feel like Deca, a recent meta-analysis (quantitative statistical analysis applied to separate, but similar, experiments) found that HMB supplementation led to a net increase in lean body mass (0.28 percent per week) and strength gains (1.4 percent per week). However, the overall effect of these changes was less than 0.2; such changes are considered small.9 To my knowledge, alpha-amino-n-butyrate has not, as yet, been investigated in humans for its anabolic and anti-catabolic properties, but it may have some anabolic and/or anti-catabolic effects. Glycine is a non-essential amino acid. It has been shown to increase growth hormone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. For example, Dr. Kasai and co-workers reported that oral administration of 6.75 grams of glycine to 19 human subjects increased growth hormone levels significantly for three hours, peaking at three to four times baseline at two hours.7 Further, glycine plays a role as an excitatory neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a chemical contained in synaptic vesicles in nerve endings that is released into the synaptic cleft, where it causes the production of either excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Finally, glycine, when used with arginine, has been shown to increase endogenous creatine levels by increasing creatine synthesis.6 A number of studies using glycine for the alleviation of fatigue were done in the 1930s and 1940s, but the results were minimal.8 Arginine. Normally, a nonessential amino acid in humans, arginine is considered essential under certain conditions. Arginine has a significant role in nitrogen detoxification and has been shown to be beneficial in various diseases, including diseases of the liver, in which ammonia levels are extremely high.6 As noted above, it’s suggested that ammonia plays a role in fatigue. The GAKIC Patent According to U.S. Patent Number 6,100,287 ("Materials and methods for enhancing muscle performance and recovery from fatigue”): 1. GAKIC treatment increases the ability to sustain athletic muscle force during intense anaerobic muscle exercise; 2. GAKIC treatment increases the ability to sustain athletic muscle work during intense anaerobic muscle exercise; and 3. GAKIC increases overall muscle performance by decreasing muscle absolute fatigue while retarding the rate of muscle fatigue. Review of GAKIC Studies The purpose of the first GAKIC study by Dr. Bruce Stevens and colleagues at the University of Florida was to quantify the effects of GAKIC supplementation on human muscle dynamic performance (strength, work, fatigue) measured under conditions of acute, exhaustive, high-intensity, anaerobic, isokinetic exercise.4 Thirteen healthy men were orally administered 355 milliliters of lowcalorie cranberry juice containing either 11.20 grams of freshly dissolved, powdered GAKIC, or 9.46 grams of sugar isocaloric control. This was consumed in three equal aliquots (parts of a whole) over 45 minutes. The results demonstrated that GAKIC supplementation significantly improved performance compared to control isocaloric sugar treatment. The authors summarized the salient findings as follows: 1. GAKIC increased the ability to sustain muscle force (concentric torque) up to 28 percent during intense acute anaerobic muscle exercise; 2. GAKIC increased the ability to sustain muscle total work up to 12 percent during intense anaerobic muscle exercise; and 3. GAKIC increased the overall muscle performance by delaying muscle fatigue during the early phases of anaerobic exercise through 15 minutes. The purpose of the second GAKIC study by Drs. Britni Buford and Alexander Koch at Truman State University was to determine the effects of GAKIC supplementation on repeated bouts of anaerobic cycling performance.5 Again, subjects (10 healthy men) consumed the treatment beverage (GAKIC or sugar) in three equal aliquots over a 45-minute period. The dosing regimen employed was identical to the first study by Dr. Stevens and co-workers. The results of this second study indicate that GAKIC supplementation significantly reduces the drop in mean power output associated with repeated sprints of anaerobic cycling. The authors concluded, “These findings reinforce the notion that GAKIC supplementation may be a useful aid for strength-power athletes, similar to creatine supplementation. Unlike creatine, which requires approximately five days of loading to produce improvements in high-intensity work, GAKIC appears to impart an ergogenic effect within minutes of consumption.” Finally, the third GAKIC-related study by Dr. Joshua Yarrow and coworkers determined whether ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) alone affects anaerobic exercise performance.13 Fourteen gym rats participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study. All subjects were pre-tested for maximal strength (1- RM) and muscular endurance (50 percent of 1-RM repetitions to muscular failure). Following supplementation (1.5 grams of KIC, nine grams of KIC or isocaloric placebo), subjects completed chest press and leg press muscular endurance testing. Results indicated that KIC supplementation 45 minutes prior to resistance training did not improve muscular endurance. MuscleTech GAKIC™ MuscleTech GAKIC caplets: The bottle contains 128 caplets and the serving size is eight caplets (10.2 grams of GAKIC). Thus, one container supplies 16 servings. The bottle contains a one-month supply for someone who works out four times per week. MuscleTech GAKIC powder: The bottle contains 544 grams of powder. The serving size is one scoop (about 34 grams), so one container supplies 16 servings. One serving contains 10.2 grams of GAKIC and 24 grams of carbohydrates. Again, the bottle contains a one-month supply for someone who works out four times per week. MuscleTech recommends that GAKIC only be used when you work out and at no other time. I agree with this recommendation. It doesn’t make sense to ingest anti-fatigue supplements while watching TV! Bottom Line Although more research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn, GAKIC appears to be a very effective anti-fatigue supplement. Give it a try and let us know how it works.