ANABOLIC AGENTS (NON-STEROID)
Arachidonic Acid (eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid)
Arachidonic Acid (eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid)
Description:
Arachidonic acid is an omega-6 essential fatty acid that serves as the principle building block
for the synthesis of dienolic prostaglandins (such as PGE2 and PGF2a). These
prostaglandins are integral to protein turnover and muscle accumulation, and have such
important activities as increasing blood flow to the muscles (pumps), increasing local IGF-1
and insulin sensitivity (corresponding receptor levels), supporting satellite cell activation,
proliferation, and differentiation, and increasing the overall rate of protein synthesis and
muscle growth. Arachidonic acid release serves as the main thermostat for prostaglandin
turnover in skeletal muscle tissue, and is responsible for initiating many of the immediate
biochemical changes during resistance exercise that will ultimately produce muscle
hypertrophy. As such, it is a highly anabolic nutrient. Among the large variety of nutrients
available to athletes and bodybuilders for supplementation, next to protein, arachidonic acid
is the most integral to muscle growth, as it sits at the very center of the anabolic response.
Clinical Studies:
In 2005, the Exercise & Sport Nutrition Laboratory at Baylor University conducted a
double-blind placebo-controlled study to determine if 50 days of resistance training and
arachidonic acid (X-Factor™) supplementation would affect training adaptations in 31
experienced (>1 year) resistance-trained males. The results were presented at the
International Society of Sports Nutrition conference on June 15, 2006. All subjects ingested
a total of four capsules each day (one 250 mg capsule of AA or placebo every four hours).
Subjects taking X-Factor added an average of 25lbs to their bench press maximum weight in
50 days, which was an increase of nearly 45% greater than the placebo group. The XFactor
group outperformed the placebo group on Average Power (225% > placebo), Peak
Anaerobic Power (600% > placebo), and Total Work Capacity (250% > placebo). No side
effects were reported during the investigation.
Pharmacology:
Arachidonic acid begins to display its anabolic activity early during exercise. This nutrient is
released from your muscle fibers as they are damaged during intense training, triggering a
localized inflammatory and anabolic response. This is part of the same biological process that
causes you to be sore a day or two following a good workout, and reminds us that the old
adage “no pain, no gain” is a fundamentally true one. Arachidonic acid liberation from
damaged muscle fibers is, similarly, the very first anabolic trigger in a long cascade that will
control the rebuilding and strengthening of muscle tissue after exercise.628 629 630 Among
other things, by increasing local IGF-1 and insulin receptor density, arachidonic acid
supports the anabolic actions of these hormones, making the repair process both faster and
more intense. As a crude explanation, arachidonic acid helps direct the body to where it
needs muscle tissue repair by facilitating the localized actions of anabolic hormones.
The availability of arachidonic acid, and our ability to liberate it during exercise, is important
to the anabolic productivity of our workouts. We also need to be aware of the fact that
regular exercise significantly lowers the content of arachidonic acid in skeletal muscle
tissue.631 632 633 Since dienolic prostaglandin synthesis is tied to the amount of available
arachidonic acid, lower levels result in less arachidonic acid being released during exercise,
and a less intense anabolic response. The depletion of arachidonic acid in skeletal muscle
tissue is also one of the key reasons we find it harder to get sore the more regularly we
exercise. With lower levels of arachidonic acid, you need to work more vigorously to receive
the same level of release and anabolic stimulation. On the same note, when you change up
your routine and hit your muscles from new angles, arachidonic acid is the reason you may
find yourself more sore than usual. You have called upon new muscle fibers, which have
higher stores of arachidonic acid to work with. Dan Duchaine once said,“ The best exercise
is the one you are not doing.” This may have a lot to do with what he was talking about.
History:
The arachidonic acid supplementation protocols, and the concept of using this nutrient to
improve muscle mass, strength, and performance, were first developed by William Llewellyn,
author of this book series. Llewellyn filed patent on the technology on November 27, 2002,
author of this book series. Llewellyn filed patent on the technology on November 27, 2002,
and released an arachidonic acid supplement under the X-Factor trademark (Molecular
Nutrition) shortly after. Although the product was initially met with a great deal of skepticism
and criticism by industry peers, it has since been proven effective both in the marketplace
and in clinical trials, and established itself as a powerful supplement for body recomposition
goals. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office granted Llewellyn’s patent application for
arachidonic acid on January 11, 2005 (U.S. Patent # 6,841,573), and the product has since
been offered for license to other companies in the industry. The original X-Factor product
remains widely available in the U.S. and abroad, and rapid expansion in the arachidonic acid
category is expected as more companies license the technology. Note that any officially
licensed arachidonic acid product sold in the sports nutrition marketplace will carry the
original X-Factor trademark on its packaging.
Structural Characteristics:
Arachidonic acid (eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid) is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid
found in animal fats. Supplemental arachidonic acid is commonly produced in two forms,
triglyceride and ethyl ester. As with other fatty acid supplements such as fish oils, the natural
triglyceride form (as present in X-Factor and licensed products) offers up to 400% greater
absorption than the ethyl ester, and is the preferred form for supplementation.
How Supplied:
Arachidonic acid is sold under the X-Factor trademark by Molecular Nutrition, and is
supplied in 250 mg capsules. Arachidonic acid may also be found in a number of licensed
products; all will display the patent number (#6,841,573) on the packaging.
Administration (Short-Term Anabolic):
As a short-term anabolic agent, arachidonic acid is supplemented at a dose of 500 mg to
1,000 mg per day (2-4 250 mg capsules). The full 1,000 mg dose is most commonly used,
regardless of bodyweight. The nutrient is cycled in the same way steroids commonly are, and
is taken for a period of 7-8 weeks followed by an equal amount of time off. This level is
sufficient to notice measurable increases in lean muscle mass, strength, and anaerobic power.
Depending on dietary and individual metabolic factors, these gains may be accompanied by a
decrease in body fat. Gains of 1-2lbs of lean muscle mass per week are fairly consistent,
with total accrued weight gain often measuring approximately 10lbs during a cycle. There is
also no hormonal disruption with arachidonic acid supplementation, so the retention of gains
after the product is discontinued is generally high. Note that arachidonic acid also has some
effect as a vasodilator, and may produce increased pumps in response to intense training.
This often occurs within two weeks of initiating supplementation at anabolic levels.
Administration (Normal Supplementation):
Arachidonic acid may also be an important nutrient to consider in regular supplemental
doses, particularly if you do not consume animal products (red meat, organ meat, eggs) on a
regular basis. Studies have shown that given somewhat comparable amounts of protein,
those who consume animal products will make more progress with resistance exercise than
those that do not (vegetarians).634 Arachidonic acid may be the missing component in such
diets, too integral to the anabolic response for lower dietary levels not to be noticed. There is
also empirical evidence suggesting that an arachidonic acid deficiency exists in many
experienced bodybuilders, given that training depletes AA stores. On a number of cases,
tissue tests for the content of phospholipids have revealed unusually low levels of arachidonic
acid in highly trained athletes. For those who find their intake of animal products inadequate,
or feel that they may have insufficient tissue stores of AA, a single capsule of 250 mg
provides about the equivalent of a day’s supply of arachidonic acid within a normal western
diet with animal products. Taken every day or two, the capsule should provide a necessary
supply of this essential omega-6 fatty acid.
