October 1, 1998
Volume 1, Number 5
Research Update
by Bryan Haycock MSc., CSCS
bryan@thinkmuscle.com
Please send us your feedback
on this article.
As we approach the new millennium we find the science of building
muscle progressing faster than ever before. Long gone are the days of
simple trial and error when it comes to building muscle. The modern
bodybuilder demands more than just "hear say" if they are to
adopt a new training routine or nutritional supplement. This column was
created to keep today’s bodybuilder on the cutting edge of scientific
research that might benefit them in their quest for body perfection.
Forgotten Supplement Raises IGF-1 levels in
Athletes!
Title: Effects of bovine colostrum
supplementation on serum IGF-I, IgG, hormone, and saliva IgA during
training.
Researchers: Mero A, Miikkulainen H, Riski J,
Pakkanen R, Aalto J, Takala T, Department of Biology of Physical
Activity, University of Jyvaskyla, 40351 Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Source: J Appl Physiol 1997
Oct;83(4):1144-1151
Summary:
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of bovine
colostrum supplementation (Bioenervi) on serum insulin-like growth
factor I (IGF-I), immunoglobulin G, hormone, and amino acid and saliva
immunoglobulin A concentrations during a strength and speed training
period. Nine male sprinters and jumpers underwent three randomized
experimental training treatments of 8 days separated by 13 days. The
only difference in the treatments was the drink of 125 ml consumed per
day. Post-training increases were noticed for serum IGF-I in the 25-ml
Bioenervi treatment (125 ml contained 25 ml Bioenervi) and especially in
the 125-ml Bioenervi treatment (125 ml contained 125 ml Bioenervi)
compared with the placebo (normal milk whey) treatment. The change in
IGF-I concentration during the 8-day periods correlated positively with
the change in insulin concentration during the same periods with 25-ml
Bioenervi treatment and with 125-ml Bioenervi treatment. Serum
immunoglobulin G, hormone, and amino acid and saliva immunoglobulin A
responses were similar during the three treatments. It appears that a
bovine colostrum supplement (Bioenervi) may increase serum IGF-I
concentration in athletes during strength and speed training.
Discussion:
Colostrum is the first milk that is secreted by the mother after
giving birth. It is clear to yellowish in color and excreted in
relatively small amounts compared to the volume whole milk that follows.
This substance is rich in essential nutrients as well as immunoglobulins
and growth factors. The digestive system of a new born infant is such
that whole proteins such as the immunoglobulins and growth factors can
be absorbed intact. It is essential for the infant to ingest colostrum
immediately after birth to ensure proper functioning of the immune
system and early growth. Although life extensionists are very interested
in the potential ability of colostrum to boost immunity, we as
bodybuilders are more interested in the growth factors, particularly
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1). The concentration of IGF-1 in
colostrum ranges from 200-2,000 ug/l depending on the batch. Compare
this to normal whole milk which contains <10 ug/l. IGF-1 is thought
to act both systemically as well as locally to enhance muscle growth. In
the presents of IGF-1, myogenic stem cells will multiply and
differentiate into "pre-muscle cells" which then fuse to
existing muscle cells that are undergoing adaptive growth. This fusion
allows the growing muscle cell to increase the number of nuclei in the
cell and thereby increase protein synthetic and metabolic capacity. This
process allows the cell to increase it’s volume and protein content
without compromising muscle function. Bovine (cow) IGF-1 has been tested
for genetic similarity to human IGF-1 and was found to be identical. So
theoretically, if IGF-1 could be absorbed from bovine colostrum in adult
humans it may have the ability to enhance the anabolic milieu.
This study brings up a lot of questions. First of all, we may need to
rethink the notion that the acidic environment of the adult GI track is
to harsh for colostrum to be of any benefit. Until now, most "in
the know" bodybuilders have chuckled when seeing colostrum on the
shelf of their favorite health food store. "There’s a sucker born
every minute", I can remember thinking. Of course all of this
scepticism was based on an assumption that the growth factors which
exist as whole proteins would be degraded just like all the other
proteins we eat in order to be absorbed across the brush border membrane
in the intestine. Is it possible that small quantities of IGF-1 are
getting through? Or perhaps there are low molecular weight peptides
found in colostrum that are acting to stimulate the endogenous
production of IGF-1?
One other point of interest was the choice of the researchers to use
athletes instead of mere mortals. Although the number of subjects was
small (9), at least they were already conditioned and participating in a
strength training program.
The overall changes in serum IGF-1 were small. The average increase
being only .54 nmol/l per day. The authors suggest that although this
change is small, it was shown to increase in a dose and time dependant
manner. So for example, if the study were carried out of 20 days, the
change would have been 10.8 nmol/l per day. Average serum levels in
adults is ~200ug/l. No other hormone levels measured showed any
significant difference between groups. Did this small increase in serum
IGF-1 lead to readily seen improvements in size, strength and
performance? After all it was only an 8 day treatment. One week is
hardly sufficient to see real gains after any kind of intervention.
Keep in mind that two of the researchers involved in this study were
employed by Viable Bioproducts. Viable Bioproducts is the manufacturer
of the colostrum used in this study. Is there a possibility of bias? You
bet. What needs to happen is for this study to be replicated by other
scientists with perhaps a few improvements such as the length of the
study and number of participants.
Keep your eye out for more research looking at the ability of
colostrum to increase serum IGF-1 levels in adult humans. If you are
optimistic about this and would like to try it out on good faith, be
sure to be an educated shopper. You should request a bioassay of the
particular batch from which your order was taken. The colostrum should
also be from the "first milking" to assure the highest
concentrations of growth factors. As for now, the price and availability
of colostrum are good. If more research appears to confirm the effects
of colostrum, expect the price to skyrocket.
New method of training promises to increase strength gains by
300%! And they’ve got proof!
Title: Effect of vibratory stimulation
training on maximal force and flexibility.
Researchers: Issurin VB, Liebermann DG,
Tenenbaum G; Ribstein Center for Research and Sport Medicine Sciences,
Wingate Institute, Wingate Post, Israel.
Source: J Sports Sci 1994 Dec;12(6):561-566
Summary:
In this study, we investigated a new method of training for maximal
strength and flexibility, which included exertion with superimposed
vibration (vibratory stimulation, VS) on target muscles (seated rows
with torso supported). Twenty-eight male athletes were divided into
three groups, and trained three times a week for 3 weeks in one of the
following conditions: (A) conventional exercises for strength of the
arms [and back] and VS stretching exercises for the legs; (B) VS
strength exercises for the arms [and back] and conventional stretching
exercises for the legs; (C) irrelevant training (control group). The
vibration was applied at 44 Hz while its amplitude was 3 mm. The effect
of training was evaluated by means of isotonic maximal force,
heel-to-heel length in the two-leg split across, and flex-and-reach test
for body flexion. The VS strength training yielded an average increase
in isotonic maximal strength of 49.8%, compared with an average gain of
16% with conventional training, while no gain was observed for the
control group. The VS flexibility training resulted in an average gain
in the legs split of 14.5 cm compared with 4.1 cm for the conventional
training and 2 cm for the control groups, respectively. It was concluded
that superimposed vibrations applied for short periods allow for
increased gains in maximal strength and flexibility.
Discussion:
Embedded deep within skeletal muscle are sensory organs called muscle
spindles. They are called "spindles" because of their shape.
Muscle spindles are arranged in parallel with the muscle fibers. Muscle
spindle organelles are only about 4-7 mm long but they have long
tendinous filaments that extend the length of the muscle and attach to
the muscle tendons on either end. Muscle spindles are sensitive to both
length and rate of stretch of a muscle. The greater the stretch, the
more rapid the discharge of the spindle. Faster rates of stretch also
elicit faster discharge rates than slower rates of stretch. The spindle’s
function is to give proprioceptive, or body position, information and to
regulate muscle length by initiating involuntary muscle contraction in
response to rapid stretch. In this study, it’s probable that muscle
spindles were activated by the vibratory stimulation (VS) resulting in
enhanced motor-neural activation during the performance of the exercise.
This additional motor unit activity of the muscle would result in
increased muscle tension.
The researchers chose to set the vibration frequency at 44
oscillations per second (44 Hz) because this corresponds with the
natural moto-neural discharge frequency that elicits the greatest
contractile force in muscle tissue.
There are some exciting issues and some disappointing issues brought
out by this study. First the disappointments. The length of this study
was very short lasting only three weeks. Little information about the
effects of vibratory stimulation on muscle hypertrophy could be
extrapolated from such a short period of time. Another shortcoming of
this study design was that only one exercise was used, namely, seated
rows with the torso supported. Sketches of the machine and experimental
setting indicate that any exercise that can be done on a cable machine
could have been incorporated into the study. In addition, the authors
provide no information about tissue microtrauma or delayed onset muscle
soreness. This information may give suggestion as to the mechanism by
which vibratory stimulation brought about such dramatic increases in
strength. The authors suggest enhanced "motor learning" yet
increased muscle microtrauma leading to enhanced satellite cell activity
may also play a role. Finally, the apparatus used in this study was
constructed specifically for this experiment. The vibration was produced
by a motor with rotating discs placed off of their center. The
resistance was provided by a cable apparatus that passed through the
vibratory stimulation device. This type of apparatus could not be
reproduced by the average individual, so until some enterprising company
decides to produce their own vibratory stimulation machine we are out of
luck.
On the upside, the subjects in this study were "athletes".
All of the subjects were actively involved in athletics which is unusual
for a strength training study. Most studies of this type utilize
"previously untrained" volunteers. Another positive aspect was
the strength (no pun intended) of the training effect. The conventional
strength training group experienced strength increases on the order of
16%. In comparison, the VS group experienced an average 50% increase in
strength. That is a 3 fold difference! In my opinion this is certainly a
technique that deserves further investigation. Not only to uncover the
exact mechanism by which VS produces its effects, but also to explore
the potential for this method of training in producing muscle
hypertrophy.
Ipriflavone ...Anabolic or Not?
Summary/Discussion:
I decided to approach Ipriflavone in a non-traditional way. In order
to answer the questions that everybody has been asking, namely, “What
does ipriflavone do?” “How does it work?” “Is it anabolic?”, a
multi disciplinary approach must be used. Below I have brought together
a number of studies looking at ipriflavone as well as some looking at
mechanisms that ipriflavone has been shown to effect. It will be then
left up to you to decide wether ipriflavone is a truly innovative
supplement, or another over hyped waste of money.
Ipriflavone
has an Oxygen sparing effect on muscle tissue.
Research: Experimental studies on the cardiological effects
of ipriflavone on the isolated rabbit heart and in rat and dog.
Arzneimittelforschung 1981;31(6):953-958
In the heart, ipriflavone prevents Ca2+ ions from building up in the
mitochondria. This allows oxygen to continue to function as an electron
receiver. This prevents the build up of lactic acid which leads to
enhanced muscle function and less damage due to hypoxia (lack of
oxygen). Simply put, ipriflavone lessens the damage caused by a lack of
oxygen to the tissues. This occurs in heart tissue during a mild heart
attack as well as in skeletal muscle during extended sets where the
burning in the muscle is intense. No studies have been performed looking
at skeletal muscle function during ipriflavone supplementation.
Ipriflavone
enhances the effectiveness of estrogen signaling.
Research: Effect of ipriflavone on the response of uterus and
thyroid to estrogen. Life Sci 1986 Feb 24;38(8):757-764
Well, is increased estrogen signaling of benefit to bodybuilders? I’m
not sure. Those systems that are regulated through negative feedback
would theoretically be shut down sooner even with less estrogen present.
Once again, this may or may not benefit someone looking to increase
muscle mass or reduce the chances of developing gyno.
Ipriflavone
decreases collagen turnover.
Research: Short-term treatment of Paget's disease of bone
with ipriflavone. Bone Miner 1992 Oct;19 Suppl 1:S35-S42
Cis-4-Hydroxy-L-proline and ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate
prevent myogenesis of C2C12 muscle cells and block MyoD1 and myogenin
expression. Exp Cell Res 1992 May;200(1):70-76
[Effects of ipriflavone (TC-80, an anti-osteoporotic drug) on
acute and chronic pain]. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1986 Jul;
88(1): 9-17. Japanese.
Effects of ipriflavone and its metabolites on human articular
chondrocytes cultivated in clusters. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1996 Mar;
4(1): 1-8.
Biology of the rotator cuff tendon. Orthop Clin North Am 1997
Jan;28(1):1-16
Tendon degeneration and chronic shoulder pain: changes in the
collagen composition of the human rotator cuff tendons in rotator cuff
tendinitis. Ann Rheum Dis 1994 Jun;53(6):359-366
Force transmission in skeletal muscle: from actomyosin to
external tendons. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 1997;25:321-363
One of the markers used to measure bone metabolism is the
hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio. Hydroxy proline is an indicator of
collagen turnover. It is released into the body when collagen is broken
down. Collagen is the only source for this protein so it is a good
indicator of collagen turnover. Ipriflavone has been shown to decrease
hydroxyproline levels in all studies that tested for it. What does this
mean for you? Well, increased collagen breakdown has been shown to
result from chronic inflamation leading to overuse injuries of the
rotator cuff. Ipriflavone would be expected to prevent the degradation
of tendinous tissue in the shoulder thereby aiding in the healing
process as well as acting to help prevent future injuries. Another
benefit may be by way of increased strength transduction from muscle
tissue to bone. You see when a muscle contracts it must pass the force
from the muscle tissue itself to the bone which acts as the lever to
perform work. As connective tissue builds up and strengthens, it becomes
a more efficient transducer of muscular force resulting in increased
strength. Finally, tendinitis can result from very heavy lifting in
sensitive joints such as the elbow and wrist. Ipriflavone
supplementation should aid in preventing this as well as accelerating
recovery. Cartilage may also benefit from ipriflavone supplementation in
that cartilage formation involves the building of a collagenous matrix
upon which chondrocytes can attach and lay down new cartilage.
Ipriflavone
interacts with cytochrome P450 enzymes
Research: Ipriflavone as an inhibitor of human cytochrome
P450 enzymes. Br J Pharmacol 1998 Feb;123(4):605-610
Ipriflavone, as well as a host of other flavonoids, bind with varying
affinity to P450 enzymes. These are the enzymes responsible for the
metabolism of many drugs and the conversion of testosterone into
estrone. You are probably familiar with the flavone Chrysin. It also
interacts with the cytochrome P450 enzymes which are responsible for
aromatization of testosterone. Although ipriflavone is not a potent as
chrysin “in vitro”, at least you know it is there trying to do
something good for your testosterone levels. Further studies are needed
to know for sure what effect ipriflavone has on androgen metabolism.
Ipriflavone
modulates Ca2+ fluxes within the cell.
Research: Androgenic stimulation of endocytosis, amino acid
and hexose transport in mouse kidney cortex involves increased calcium
fluxes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1983 Apr 5;762(2):366-371
Novel ipriflavone receptors coupled to calcium influx
regulate osteoclast differentiation and function. Endocrinology 1996
Aug;137(8):3544-3550
Ipriflavone has positive effects on the phosphatidyl inositol
transduction pathway. This pathway is a second messenger system and is
used by hormones as well as in nerve impulses. This pathway begins with
a nerve impulse or a hormone interacting with a receptor on the cell
membrane which then activates Phospholipase C. The result of this is the
eventual activation of protein kinase C and the flux of Ca2+ ions from
within the endoplasmic reticulum. It is noteworthy that certain stimuli
for steroidogenesis in leydig cell rely on this pathway.
In summary, Ipriflavone has a wide range of effects. Some may be of
benefit to bodybuilders and others may be neither here nor there. Should
a person run out and buy it? Well, I would imagine it depends on the
cost as well as the expected outcomes of taking it. I can say for a fact
that ipriflavone will act to strengthen to skeletal system from bone to
ligaments to tendons. To me, this is a valuable effect. To some extent,
ipriflavone "may" decrease aromatase activity, it may increase
the rate of strength gains through greater connective tissue
accumulation, it may increase the signaling potential of some hormones
and nerve impulses, protect tissue from hypoxic damage, and aid in
managing overuse injuries as well as be a preventative agent against
joint problems. As mentioned earlier, more studies are needed that do
not focus on postmenopausal osteoporosis, but instead focus on the wider
range of effects heretofore seen with ipriflavone supplementation and
experimentation.
by Bryan Haycock MSc., CSCS
bryan@thinkmuscle.com
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