Evidence supporting the use of: Arachidonic acid
For the health condition: Body Building

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Arachidonic acid (AA) is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid that serves as a precursor to various eicosanoids involved in inflammation and cellular signaling. Its use in bodybuilding is based on the hypothesis that AA-mediated inflammatory signaling may promote muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth in response to resistance training. Several small clinical studies have investigated AA supplementation in trained individuals. For example, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2007) found that 1,000 mg/day of AA for 50 days led to modest but statistically significant increases in lean body mass, strength, and power when combined with resistance training. However, these effects were relatively small and not consistently replicated in all studies. The proposed mechanism is that AA increases training-induced muscle inflammation, which could stimulate repair and growth.

Despite these findings, the overall body of evidence is limited by small sample sizes, short study durations, and potential conflicts of interest. Some studies have reported no significant benefit of AA supplementation on muscle growth or performance. Furthermore, there are potential safety concerns with chronic high-dose AA intake, given its pro-inflammatory properties.

In summary, while there is some scientific evidence supporting the use of arachidonic acid for bodybuilding, the strength of evidence is low to moderate, and further research is needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

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