Abstract

Muscle plays a central role in protein metabolism throughout the body. It is a major reservoir of amino acids. The importance of muscle mass, strength, and metabolic function in athletic performance is well known, and exercise-induced muscle injuries can also reduce muscle function and cause pain and discomfort. Syndromes such as sarcopenia and cachexia are also defined in part by a loss of muscle mass and strength. Elevated plasma amino acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis. The degree of stimulation depends on the dose and the profile of amino acids given. Essential amino acids are closely related to human protein synthesis and locomotion ability especially leucine, which is the substrate for new muscle protein synthesis and initiates the signal of rate-limiting translation initiation step of muscle protein synthesis. Supplementation of Essential Amino Acids can promote muscle protein synthesis and improve muscle mass and strength in exercise and elderly people. It can also improve exercise fatigue and recovery after exercise; In addition, it has a positive effect on age-related bone health. However, the interaction, regulation mechanism, optimal ratio and other benefits of essential amino acids remain to be further studied and explored.

Keywords:Muscle mass; Performance; Leucine; Essential amino acids; Recovery; Bone health