Glycine-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (GAKIC) has been reported to enhance resistance performance during muscular strength and endurance protocols. PURPOSE: This study intended to investigate the potential ergogenic effects of GAKIC ingestion during repeated bouts of lower-body resistance exercise during a hypertrophy protocol. METHODS: Eleven resistance-trained males participated in a randomized, counterbalanced, double blind study. Participants were randomly assigned to placebo or GAKIC and performed five sets each of 67% of one-repetition maximum leg press, hack squat, and leg extension to failure. RESULTS: GAKIC supplementation significantly increased leg press repetitions, hack squat repetitions, and total load volume; however there was no significant difference in leg extension repetitions. Heart rate and blood lactate were significantly increased post-exercise compared to pre-exercise. Blood glucose was significantly decreased post-exercise compared to pre-exercise. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that GAKIC increases total work performed during repeated bouts of lower-body resistance exercise.

Glycine-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaporic acid calcium (GAKIC) is a product advertised to increase muscular endurance during exercise via metabolic intervention. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of GAKIC ingestion on maximum strength and muscular endurance. Methods: Utilizing a double-blinded, crossover design, participants completed an upper and lower body resistance exercise protocol once using 11.2gs GAKIC, and the other with a placebo. Results: An increase in maximum strength was observed in the 1RM portion of the lower body protocol phase with statistical trends in the lower body TLV portion of testing. No significant differences were found in upper body 1RM, upper body TLV, HR, BLa, and Glucose between conditions. Conclusion: We concluded that in this protocol, GAKIC increased maximum strength in the 1RM leg press exercise. Further research is encouraged in resistance exercise.