Health Benefits of Octacosanol Supplement
Octacosanol is one of many compounds found in wheat germ oil. Interestingly, this supplement may have indirect effects on muscle mass by acting on the central nervous system (CNS). Octacosanol is not known to have any anabolic or anticatabolic effects on muscle tissue itself, but may playa role in muscle and strength development by acting on nerve tissue. One aspect of increasing speed and strength, in addition to muscular hypertrophy, is via neural adaptation. If athletes can increase the efficiency at which the nervous system acts, this may facilitate speed and strength production and influence the growth response in skeletal muscle by activating more muscle fibers during a given lift.
Scientists have theorized octacosanol has various health benefits. It improves neuromuscular function by stabilizing nerve cell membranes and improving oxygen transport. However, there is no solid evidence that supports this notion. Some studies show increases in grip strength, reaction speed, and increased endurance performance with octacosanol supplementation. Others show no changes in performance. Interestingly, Russian scientists believe that the ability of octacosanol to facilitate oxygen transport was overemphasized by their American counterparts and that the real benefit of octacosanol supplementation is its ability to improve reaction time.
Animal Studies
Animal studies involving octacosanol are inconclusive regarding a definite performance-enhancing effect with this supplement. Studies in the literature show equivocal data from swimming time tests in rodents However, the studies are quite old and investigations conducted today on octacosanol would benefit from advances in technology and laboratory techniques available to the modern sport scientist. Theoretically, this supplement may elicit beneficial effects in certain sports. Nonetheless, there is little evidence to establish scientific support for physique, strength, and/or speed athletes to use this compound.
Human Studies
Limited research exists demonstrating octacosanol has performance-enhancing effects in activities requiring a high degree of quickness (i.e., reaction time). Theoretically, specific instances in which reaction time may be aided by octacosanol are the explosive transition from eccentric to concentric phases of power lifting/Olympic weightlifting (i.e. squatting and pressing), getting out of the blocks for a sprint race, getting off the line quickly after the snap in football, and rapid throwing movements in baseball.
In one 8-week, double-blind study, 16 subjects were administered either 1000 µg of octacosanol or placebo per day? Results showed that those receiving octacosanol had improved reaction time to visual stimuli as well as a significant increase in grip strength. There were no differences in either grip strength or endurance time as measured by cycle ergometry.
Safety and Toxicity
This substance has been widely used as a food and nutritional supplement since the 1950s. There are no reports in the literature of toxicity in animals or humans.
Tags: anabolic or anticatabolic, ergometry, hypertrophy, Octacosanol, squatting and pressing, toxicity
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