Nutrients for a Stronger Athletic Body

In a study out of the University of Connecticut, L-carnitine positively affected markers of post-exercise metabolic stress and muscle damage.⁸ Eight healthy men were administered 0 g, 1 g, and 2 g of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT; as Carnipure™, from Lonza Inc.) for three weeks and then performed a bout of resistance exercise with associated blood draws. Both the 1- and 2-g doses were effective in mediating various markers of metabolic stress and of muscle soreness. Researchers said the use of LCLT appeared to attenuate metabolic stress and the hypoxic chain of events leading to muscle damage after exercise.

L-carnitine can also enhance the responses of skeletal muscle to training as well.⁹ Four horses were supplemented with 10 g/d of L-carnitine for 10 weeks; three horses served as controls. Muscular adaptations to training were observed mainly in the L-carnitine-supplemented horses and included an increase in the percentage of type IIA fibers, atrophy of type I fibers, a rise in the capillary-to-fiber ratio and an increase in the quantitative reaction of periodic acid Schiff stain (used as an indicator of intrafiber glycogen content). Exogenous carnitine demonstrated an additive effect on muscular responses to training.

Collagen is one of the proven staples for relieving joint health. In one study, glycosylated undenatured type II collagen (as UC-II® , from InterHealth Nutraceuticals) demonstrated the ability to induce tolerance and effectively reducing joint pain and swelling in subjects.¹⁰ In the 42-day pilot study, five female subjects (58 to 78 years), suffering from significant joint pain, were administered 10 mg/d of UC-II. Researchers concluded UC-II may serve as a novel therapeutic tool in joint inflammatory conditions and symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatory arthritis (RA).