Amino Acid Distribution in Blood Following High-Intensity Interval Exercise: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the effect of high-intensity interval exercise on total and individual amino acid concentrations in red blood cells (RBC) and plasma. Seven males (30.7 ± 13.3 year) provided venous blood samples at rest, immediately, 15 min and 30 min following an 8 min high-intensity exercise bout. The high-intensity exercise was 16x15s cycle efforts at 40% body mass (N) and 90 rpm, interspersed with 15s passive recovery. Total and individual amino acid concentrations of RBC and plasma and blood cell parameters were analysed. No significant differences for total amino acid concentrations RBC and plasma were found, however an inverse trend response was noted. Individual amino acid analyses showed significant interaction effects for alanine and α-aminoadipic acid (P < 0.05), with plasma alanine significantly increased from baseline across the recovery period (P < 0.001). Group effects show greater concentrations of glycine, serine, asparagine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, α-aminoadipic acid and ornithine in RBC, while greater concentrations of alanine, α-aminobutyric acid, valine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, proline, phenylalanine, glutamine, tryptophan and cystine were found in plasma (P < 0.05). Comparable levels of histidine, lysine and tyrosine were observed between blood fractions. High variation for baseline RBC amino acids which decreased following exercise was observed. Haemoglobin, pack cell volume and white blood cell count significantly increased immediately following exercise (P < 0.05) but returned to baseline after 15 min recovery. The RBC amino acid characteristics following high-intensity exercise support the notion of individualised transportation roles for RBC and plasma may exist.