The effect of eight weeks of resistance training with L-arginine supplementation on muscle strength in adolescent wrestlers in Shiraz
Subject Areas : Open Access
ghobad hasanpour
1
*
,
morteza afkari
2
1 -
2 - 2. Departmen of Sport Physiology, Marv.C., Islamic Azad Univercity, Marvdasht, Iran.
Keywords: resistance training, L-arginine supplement, strength,
Abstract :
Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of resistance training with L-arginine supplementation on the lower body muscle strength of adolescent athletes. Research methodology: Given the nature of the subject and objectives of the present study, it is an applied and semi-experimental type. The statistical population of this study was all adolescent wrestlers in Shiraz. The subjects were divided into four groups of ten: 1. Training group 2. Training and dietary supplement group 3. Control group 4. Supplement group. The subjects performed weight training for eight weeks, 3 sessions per week. The subjects in the training and supplement group consumed one 500 mg L-arginine tablet twice on training days (one hour before training and before bedtime). The Barzaki one-repetition maximum (1RM) test was used as a pre- and post-test to measure the subjects' muscular strength. Muscle mass was also measured by a body composition device. Statistical tests, one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test, and paired t-test were used to determine changes in variables at a significance level of less than 0.05 in SPSS version 19 software. Findings: Eight weeks of resistance training with herbal supplement L-arginine had a significant effect on quadriceps strength in adolescent male wrestlers (P=0.02). Eight weeks of strength training with L-arginine had a significant effect on increasing muscle mass in adolescent male wrestlers (P=0.02). Conclusion: It seems that training with L-arginine supplementation can increase muscle mass and strength in athletes.
Pahlavani, N., Entezari, M. H., Nasiri, M., Miri, A., Rezaie, M., Bagheri-Bidakhavidi, M., & Sadeghi, O. (2017). The effect of l-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in male athletes: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial. European journal of clinical nutrition, 71(4), 544-548.
Álvares, T. S., Conte Jr, C. A., Paschoalin, V. M. F., Silva, J. T., Meirelles, C. D. M., Bhambhani, Y. N., & Gomes, P. S. C. (2012). Acute l-arginine supplementation increases muscle blood volume but not strength performance. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 37(1), 115-126.
Dadkhah, R., Kazemzadeh, Y., & Sedaghati, S. (2022). Comparison of the Effect of Leucine and L-Arginine Supplementation Before and After Resistance Training On Athletes' Protein Catabolism Indices in Ramadan. Journal of Nutrition, Fasting & Health, 10(1).
Ali, D. M. (2025). An investigation was conducted using a double-blind, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of L-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in athletes. مجلة علوم الرياضة, 17(64), 72-81.
Zajac, A., Poprzecki, S., Zebrowska, A., Chalimoniuk, M., & Langfort, J. (2010). Arginine and ornithine supplementation increases growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 serum levels after heavy-resistance exercise in strength-trained athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 24(4), 1082-1090.
Karoń, Ł., Zygmunt, A. E., Karoń, K., Grabowski, W., Drapała, G., Pedrycz, E., & Pedrycz, D. (2024). L-arginine Supplementation in Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review of Recovery Mechanisms and Performance Enhancement. Quality in Sport, 33, 55867-55867.
Andrade, W. B., Jacinto, J. L., da Silva, D. K., Roveratti, M. C., Estoche, J. M., Oliveira, D. B., ... & Aguiar, A. F. (2018). l-Arginine supplementation does not improve muscle function during recovery from resistance exercise. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 43(9), 928-936.
Soliman Elsharkawy, R., & Mohamed Rabia, M. (2015). The Impact of a Training Program for Development Strength Endurance with Taking L-Arginine on Body Composition and 5000m Running Records. Journal of Applied Sports Science, 5(2), 8-17.
Nyawose, S., Naidoo, R., Naumovski, N., & McKune, A. J. (2022). The effects of consuming amino acids L-arginine, L-Citrulline (and their combination) as a beverage or powder, on athletic and physical performance: a systematic review. Beverages, 8(3), 48.
Hiratsu, A., Tataka, Y., Namura, S., Nagayama, C., Hamada, Y., & Miyashita, M. (2022). The effects of acute and chronic oral l-arginine supplementation on exercise-induced ammonia accumulation and exercise performance in healthy young men: A randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 20(2), 140-147.
Viribay, A., Burgos, J., Fernández-Landa, J., Seco-Calvo, J., & Mielgo-Ayuso, J. (2020). Effects of arginine supplementation on athletic performance based on energy metabolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 12(5), 1300.
Birol, A., Kılınç, F. N., Deliceoğlu, G., & Keskin, E. D. (2019). The effect of acute L-arginine supplementation on repeated sprint ability performance. Prog. Nutr, 21, 5-11.
Kaczka, P., Kubicka, K., Batra, A., Maciejczyk, M., Kopera, E., Bira, J., & Zając, T. (2021). Effects of Co-ingestion of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate and L-Arginine α-ketoglutarate on jump performance in young track and field athletes. Nutrients, 13(4), 1064.
Mardokhi, M., Rahimi, M. R., Saedmocheshi, S., Vasquez-Muñoz, M., & Andrade, D. C. (2025). L-arginine Supplementation Does Not Enhance Anaerobic Performance in Trained Female Handball Players. Journal of Human Kinetics.
Jung, J. H., Kang, E. B., & Kim, C. H. (2019). Effects of l-arginine supplementation with high-intensity training on muscle damage and fatigue index and athletic performance in Canoe Athletes. Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology, 36(3), 942-953.
Doroodgar, A., & Dehaghani, P. E. (2023). The effect of plyometric training plus arginine supplementation on injury prevention related to physical fitness level of beach soccer players.
Shirali, S., Idani, I., Yadollahpour, A., Hosseini, S. A., & Barari, A. (2016). Investigating the effects of resistance training on the functions of GH/IGF1 axis and L-arginine supplementation. Int J Pharm Res Allied Sci, 5(2), 234-41.
Pollock M, Vincent K. (2011), "Resistance Training for Health", J Med and Sci in Spor and Exer; 2(8): 199-204
Paul r. Stricker, md, faap,a avery d. Faigenbaum (2020). Resistance Training for Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics volume 145, number 6, june 2020.
Rahmaninia, F., & Hodjati, Z. (2007). Obesity and weight control. Varasteh Publications.
Sadeghi-Bazargani, H., Jafarzadeh, H., Fallah, M., Hekmat, S., Bashiri, J., & Hosseingolizadeh, G.H. (2011). Risk factor investigation for cardiovascular health through WHO STEPS approach in Ardabil, Iran. Vasc Health Risk Manag, 7: 417-24.[In Persian]
Saremi, A., Askari, M., & Javaheri Haghighi, P. (1990). Basic histology. Danesh Pazho Publications.
Sandhu J.S, Bhardwaj Dheera, Shenoy Shweta(2010) Ibnosina Journal of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2010).
Schroeder, R. (2011). Treatment of Adult Obesity with Bariatric Surgery. American Family Physician October 1, 84: 14-805.
Serdula, M.K., Ivery, D., Coates, R.J., Freedman, D.S., Williamson, D.F., & Byers, T. (1993). Do obese children become obese adults? A review of the Literature Prey Med. 22(2): 167-177.
Sinnott RA, Maddela RL, Nelson ED, Bae S, Singh KP, Anderson JA. (2009), "The Modifying Effects of a Calcium-Rich Whey Protein Supplement (OsoLean Powder) on Weight Loss and Waist Circumference in Overweight Subjects": A Preliminary Study. The Open Nutraceuticals; 2: 36-41.
Yilmaz UCAN.Effects of Different Types of Exercises on Body Composition in Young Men and Women. Life Science Journal 2013;10(3).
Gholami, M., Salehi, N. (2018). The effect of eight weeks of resistance training with dumbbells and theraband on body composition and muscle strength in middle-aged obese women. Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, 17: 842-829.
Manani, P., Avendi, M., Haghshenas, R., Pakdel, A. (2017). The combined effect of eight weeks of intense resistance training and ginger supplementation on waist-to-hip ratio, body composition and body mass in obese women. Koomesh Journal, 2: 286-295.
Mardanpour Shahrekordi, Z., Banitalebi, A., Faramarzi, M., Bagheri, L. and Mardanpour Shahrekordi, A. (2015). The effect of combined training order (strength and endurance) on muscle strength, aerobic capacity and body composition in elderly women. Journal of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, 3: 1-12.
Houshmand Moghadam, B., Kordi, M., Attarzadeh Hosseini, M., Dolu, T. (2019). Aerobic exercise and Spirulina supplementation reduce inflammation in diabetic men.
Kaka, R., Ghaedi, H., Farsi, S., Taghipour, A. (2019). The effect of nonlinear resistance training combined with Spirulina supplementation on serum leptin and ghrelin in obese women. Journal of Applied Health Studies in Exercise Physiology, 6: 69-77.
Gayini, A., Sattarifard, S., Kafizadeh, S., Nejatian, M. (2013). Comparison of eight weeks of combined and aerobic exercise on functional capacity, body composition and strength of cardiac patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2: 42-34.
Ahmadi Kani Golzar, F., Vatani, D., Kashkouli, V., Moradi, H., and Farhangian, M. (2012). The effect of whey isolate protein supplement and strength training on weight loss, body composition, strength, and muscle hypertrophy in overweight young men. Iranian Journal of Nutritional Sciences and Food Technology, 2: 37-46.