PubMed1999
PURPOSE: The objective of this investigation was to determine the effects of varying levels of dietary protein on the postexercise increase in serum and muscle enzyme activity normally observed following exercise-induced muscle injury. METHODS: Serum creatine kinase (CK), serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and muscle glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activities were measured in rats fed for 10 d on high (50%), normal (12%), or low (4%) protein diets following a single bout of eccentric exercise (treadmill running at 16 m.min(-1), -16 degrees incline, 90 min). RESULTS: The exercise intervention resulted in significant increases in serum CK and AST activities in all diet groups. Serum CK demonstrated peak activity immediately postexercise with increases reaching 910+/-94, 594+/-53, and 283+/-52 IU.L(-1) for animals on high, normal, and low protein diets, respectively. Similarly, peak postexercise AST activity for high, normal, and low protein diets reached 193+/-10, 147+/-3, and 162+/-9 IU.L(-1), respectively. The exercise intervention resulted in increases in muscle G-6-PD activity for all diet groups; however, LP rats demonstrated significantly lower values than NP or HP rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that dietary protein intake can significantly effect both serum and muscle enzyme activity following acute exercise-induced muscle injury.