Sustamine Improves Basketball Performance

NEW YORKIngesting of the amino acid dipeptide L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AG, as Sustamine from Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd.) helped NCAA Division I basketball players increase their basketball performance, including shoot performance and visual acuity, in a recent study from the University of Central Florida (J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012 Mar 7;9(1):4). Basketball players who took a higher dose of Sustamine also reduce their fatigue.

In this study, 10 women (21.2 +/- 1.6 years; height: 177.8 +/- 8.7 cm; body mass: 73.5 +/- 8.0 kg), all who had college basketball scholarships, participated in four trials, each consisting of a 40-min basketball game with controlled time-outs for rehydration:

Basketball players in the Sustamine lower dose group experienced a 12.5-percent improvement in shooting performance compared to players who were not allowed to hydrate (P=0.016), and an 11.1 percent-improvement compared to players who had only water (P=0.029). Visual reaction time was significantly greater following the lower dose of Sustamine (P=0.014) compared to no water.

Differences (P=0.045) in fatigue, as determined by player loads, were seen only between the higher dose group and those without water. No differences were seen in peak or mean vertical jump power during any trial.

We saw significant differences in overall performance when players consumed Sustamine in water versus water only or no hydration at all," said Dr. Jay R. Hoffman, University of Central Florida department of sport and exercise science professor and primary researcher for the study. Because Sustamine enhances fluid and electrolyte uptake directly from the gut, it helps preserve the neural function that commands physical activities involving fine motor controlsuch as shooting a basketball."

This study builds on evidence of the sports benefits of Sustamine, which was also shown to increase performance in endurance exercise and activity in a 2010 study.