Around these parts, we like to say that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the “energy currency of the cells.” This is why, around these parts, we don’t get asked to parties very often (at least not the fun ones). Don’t get me wrong, ATP is that thing we said, and ATP is great. It’s just that explaining how ATP works on a cellular level can draw snores faster than Bob Ross playing Pictionary.
But muscles are cool. Everybody likes muscles and everyone understands how they work. Do you want to lift up your grandmother’s ottoman to retrieve an errant earring? You’ll need muscles. Is that fifty-pound pile of driftwood going to carry itself to your beach-side wood-carving workshop? No! You need muscles to do those things, strong muscles and muscles that don’t fatigue easily.
That’s why I am proud to present this study on ATP that was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. It’s all about how ATP affects our lovable muscles. There were sixteen participants in the study. One group was given 400 mg of an ATP supplement, and the other group was given a placebo.After fifteen days, those who supplemented with ATP experienced less muscle fatigue and were able to generate more force at the end of an exhaustive workout.
According to the research, ATP is needed to make energy and will run out quickly as you exercise. If you take an ATP supplement. your body may be able to use that ATP to not be tired as fast and/or by helping to get rid of lactic acid (which tires you) through an ATP-caused increase in blood flow.
If you’d like the 50 dollar explanation:
As muscle undergoes prolonged work, ATP synthesis increases in an attempt to keep up with energy demand. To accomplish this, the muscle needs substrates, such as oxygen and glucose, supplied from the peripheral circulation. Endogenous muscle stores of ATP are limited and support maximal work for only a fraction of, or at most 1–2 seconds and is replenished by the supply of intercellular phosphocreatine for only an additional 2–7 seconds. Muscle performing exhaustive exercise then relies primarily on anaerobic glycolysis for regeneration of ATP which results in the production of lactate and H+. The associated decrease in intracellular pH is a factor leading to muscle fatigue. Therefore, during maximal exertion blood flow is needed not only for oxygen supply to support continued oxidative phosphorylation, but also for H+ removal for muscle pH regulation. It would seem that exogenous ATP would likely have a greater impact on the muscles’ ability to perform fatiguing exercise by increasing substrate availability to the muscle and/or facilitating waste product removal through increased blood flow through the muscle tissues.
AIM sells ATP in our one-of-a-kind Peak Endurance. It’s also chock-full of B Vitamins, a full compliment of electrolytes and vitamin C. It can help you and your awesome muscles stay energized!
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