Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study

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Publication Type pre-print
School or College College of Health
Department Nutrition
Creator Askew, Eldon W
Other Author Wing-Gaia, Stacie L.; Gershenoff, Dana C.; Drummond, Micah J.
Title Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study
Date 2014-01-01
Description Loss of body weight and fat free mass (FFM) are commonly noted with prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Recent evidence suggests protein supplementation, specifically leucine, may potentially attenuate loss of FFM in subcaloric conditions during normoxia. The purpose of this study was to determine if leucine supplementation would prevent the loss of FFM in subcaloric conditions during prolonged hypoxia. Eighteen physically active male (n=10) and female (n=8) trekkers, completed a 13-day trek in Nepal to Everest Base Camp with a mean altitude of 4140 m (range 2810-5364 m). In this double-blind study, participants were randomized to ingest either leucine (LEU) (7 g leucine, 93 kcal, 14.5g whey-based protein) or an isocaloric isonitrogenous control (CON) (0.3 g LEU, 93 kcal, 11.3 g collagen protein) twice daily prior to meals. Body weight, body composition, and circumferences of bicep, thigh, and calf were measured pre and post trek. There was a significant time effect for body weight (-2.2%±1.7%), FFM (-1.7%±1.5%), fat mass (-4.0% ± 6.9%), and circumferences (p< 0.05). However, there was no treatment effect on body weight (CON -2.3 ± 2.0%; LEU -2.2 ± 1.5%), FFM (CON -2.1 ± 1.5%; LEU -1.2 ± 1.6%), fat mass (CON -2.9% ± 5.9%; LEU -5.4% ± 8.1%), or circumferences. Although a significant loss of body weight, FFM, and fat mass was noted in 13 days of high altitude exposure, FFM loss was not attenuated by leucine. Future studies are needed to determine if leucine attenuates loss of FFM with longer duration high altitude exposure.
Type Text
Publisher NRC Press
Volume 39
Issue 3
First Page 318
Last Page 323
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Wing-Gaia, S. L., Gershenoff, D. C., Drummond, M. J., & Askew, E. W. (2014). Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: A double-blind randomized study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 39(3), 318-23.
Rights Management (c)NRC Press http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/rp-ps/atJour.jsp?lang=eng ; doi: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0319.
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,679,443 bytes
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Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6574n4n