Dad said:
I understand the posiblity that there can be no answer yet.
It is NOT infrequent for effects to be observed clinically before an explaination of the mechanism is uncovered in the lab.
This has been, for the most part, and interesting discussion. I'm just always curious as to why these things may or may not work, and what would explain its actions.
Very good questions, Dad!!!
It contains a large amount of arginine, so it may be causing vasodilation and clearance of metabolites, in general.
The ketoisocaproate can be aminated to form Leucine. Its possbile that the KIC therefore allows for ammonia clearance, allowing greater use of Adenylate kinase (2ADP -> ATP + AMP) by clearing Ammonia (NH3) so that AMP deaminase can can clear AMP (AMP -> IMP + NH3+).
Basically:
(More / supplemented) KIC is aminated to clear NH3+
More AMP is cleared by AMP deaminase
More ADP can be used to create ATP (at a higher rate), b/c of AMP clearance
Energy supply is greater (ATP provided at a higher rate)
Just a guess.
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These are the two studies I found on this:
1. Buford, B. N. and A. J. Koch. Glycine-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaproic acid improves performance of repeated cycling sprints. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 36:583-587, 2004.
2. Stevens, B. R., M. D. Godfrey, T. W. Kaminski, and R. W. Braith. High-intensity dynamic human muscle performance enhanced by a metabolic intervention. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 32:2102-2108, 2000.
FYI:
IN THE STEVENS ET AL. STUDY (I have it here at home), THE GAKIC WAS SIMPLY COMPOSED OF:
-2g glycine
-6g L-Arginine HCL
-3.2 g alpha-ketoisocaproate dicalcium
Basically, you can get the first two at many places on the web. The alpha-KIC can be had as a salt of glutamine (not a bad idea, eh?) or arginine (which would kill two bird with one stone) at these same places. This might save a buck or two... LOL
-Randy