Publications

Background: An excessively sedentary lifestyle is associated with many negative health consequences, including musculoskeletal diseases. Dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) play an important role in muscle metabolism and function.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dietary BCAA intake and triceps and biceps brachii upper extremity muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity measured by hand grip strength (HGS) and MyotonPRO.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, data collected from 76 young women aged 18–24 years were analyzed. To collect the data, the Descriptive Information Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were used. The participants’ height, body weight, HGS, and muscle viscoelastic properties were measured. In data analysis, descriptive statistics and both simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed.

Results: The mean total BCAA intake of the participants was 11.2 ± 3.6 g/day. The dietary BCAAs intake was significantly positively related to HGS (Model 1 (β, 0.286; p < 0.05), Model 2 (β, 0.444; p < 0.05)). The dietary total BCAAs intake was significantly positively related to biceps brachii tone (Model 1 (β, 0.304; p < 0.05), Model 2 (β, 0.457; p < 0.05)), biceps brachii stiffness (Model 1 (β, 0.293; p < 0.05), Model 2 (β, 0.525; p < 0.05)), and triceps brachii stiffness (Model 1 (β, 0.345; p < 0.05), Model 2 (β, 0.363; p < 0.05)), whereas dietary BCAAs were not related to biceps brachii elasticity, triceps brachii tone, and elasticity (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the study support the potential effects of dietary BCAA intake on HGS, muscle tone, and stiffness characteristics in sedentary young women.

Keywords: branched-chain amino acids, hand grip strength, muscle properties, young woman

Nowadays, decreasing levels of physical activity are associated not only with increased risk of chronic diseases and reduced quality of life, but also with adverse effects on muscle health. Physical inactivity can lead to marked changes in muscle strength and viscoelastic properties. On the ohter hand, another factor influencing muscle health is diet. This study reveals that dietary BCAAs intake is significantly associated with muscular strength and viscoelastic properties other than elasticity. The results showed that dietary BCAAs intake was positively associated with HGS, biceps brachii tone and stiffness, and triceps brachii stiffness. These findings suggest that dietary BCAAs intake may be a potential target to optimize muscle health and improve physical functioning. Accordingly, considering dietary intake may be an important approach for clinicians, especially in improving muscle strength and viscoelastic properties in sedentary individuals. However, large-scale intervention studies are needed to better understand the effects of BCAAs intake on muscle health in sedentary individuals and the biological mechanisms underlying these effects.