The skeletal muscle is considered to be the initial site

of BCAA catabolism because of its high activity of BCAA aminotransferase [2]. In our open pilot study with wrestlers [15; unpublished] we assessed the effects of HICA on body composition and exercise induced DOMS. National top wrestlers (n = 7, 79.7 ± 4.5 kg, 26 ± 6 yrs) took 0.496 g of HICA three times per day after intensive training sessions for 42 days. They had at least 10 training sessions a week, each lasting from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Since the subjects were competitive athletes they had records on their weights for years during QNZ in vitro their competition careers. During six weeks before the HICA period there were no essential changes in their weights. At least for the 6-week period before and during the 42-day trial daily diets and the number, intensity, and duration

of daily training sessions of wrestlers were kept constant. According to DXA measurements the mean body weight gain during the treatment period was 0.84 ± 1.0 kg (± SD). Bone mass was not changed but total lean soft tissue mass was increased statically significantly. The most important finding of the pilot study was, however, that subjects when using HICA did not suffer from DOMS symptoms at all or they suffered markedly less than before the treatment with HICA. No PF-3084014 molecular weight changes in blood pressure, heart rate or laboratory blood values were associated with the use of HICA suggesting that its use is safe. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HICA supplementation on body composition, DOMS symptoms and physical performance during a controlled one month training period in soccer players. Our hypothesis was that HICA would increase total lean soft tissue mass, would decrease DOMS symptoms and would improve physical performance during training. Methods Subjects The subjects were fifteen healthy male soccer players (age 22.1 ± 3.9 yr) in Inositol monophosphatase 1 the local club. They signed a written consent which was approved by the local University Ethics Committee. Study design This study was a double-blind, randomized,

placebo controlled experiment. At the beginning of study the subjects were randomized to two groups: group HICA; n = 8, age 22.8 ± 6.4 yr, height 178.9 ± 6.8 cm, body fat 14.1 ± 3.9% and group PLACEBO; n = 7; age 21.3 ± 2.3 yr, height 178.4 ± 5.1 cm, body fat 12.5 ± 3.0%; mean ± SD. There were no differences in baseline parameters between the groups. The loading period with HICA or PLACEBO lasted four weeks and the similar tests were performed before and after the loading period. The subjects were familiarized with the tests well because similar tests were used in their normal training. Loading The subjects in the HICA group ingested DL-α-hydroxy-isocaproic acid (alfaHICA™ Elmomed Ltd, Helsinki, Finland) and the subjects in the PLACEBO group received maltodextrin (Manninen Nutraceuticals Ltd, Oulu, Finland).