Post-RNY Supplement Absorption Improved?

Hey Guys, me and some other guys have been taking some powdered supplement such as creatine and glutamine (maybe some people BCAA's too), and some of us have been noticing great increases in strength and size, in spite of what often appears to be overtraining.

Some of these supplements have been proven to work in IV form, but not when taken orally. I'm wondering if there is any possibility that not having a stomach that holds on to these supplements before they are taking into the small bowel might actually improve their uptake?

Other possibilities might be:

1. "Overtraining" actually works

2. The supplements work for many people who take them

3. Some people will improve no matter how they train

Just wondering if anyone has any information on improved absorption of some nutrients after RNY?

Thanks,

Dave
 

I don't have an answer.  It is appealing to think that maybe the lack of stomach acids may prevents the breakdown of creatine, etc. before it is absorbed.  Creatine is taken up with carbs.  It's hard to ignore, though, that our protein absorption is measurably worse than before surgery, and glutamine and BCAAs are components of protein.  So we absorb protein worse, but certain amino acids better?  Doubtful, not impossible. I think it's very hard, through personal experience, to separate (1) the actual effect of a supplement; (2) the placebo effect of a supplement; and (3) the effect of not really having a baseline because you are training more than you have in years, perhaps because you think you will get a boost from the supplement. I haven't worked out this consistently in years.  Yes, I am stronger than two months ago, but who knows what gains I would have made even without glutamine? (I'm not taking creatine currently for no good reason since I have a kilo in my cabinet, and I'm still working on taking BCAAs consistently because of the nasty taste.) My own anecdotal experience is (1) creating works in everyone if you are working out to failure.  Almost every study has shown a measurable benefit.  I've also seen too many people, including myself, increase their gains in a 2-3 month stretch to write it off to motivation or placebo. I think the benefit is not only real, but substantial. (2) glutamine seems to speed recovery from major trauma, which may or may not lead to strength gains over time.  Most glutamine studies relate to trauma recovery.  I certainly believe glutamine contributed to my rapid healing from surgery.  My nutritionist also thinks it helps prevent catabolisis during fasting.  Whether it helps you make gains absent unusually high trauma and assuming your nutritional needs are being met, I'm less convinced.  I'm not sure working out, even heavy lifting, replicates these cir****tances.  Severe endurance training, like marathon/triatholon training, may, however. (3) BCAAs probably work similar to glutamine, but the scientific research is thin and I wonder if they are cost effective.  There's not nearly the scientific support suggesting BCAAs actually work, and they cost a lot.  It also seems that you get a lot of BCAAs from protein, particularly whey drinks, and experts seem to agree that protein BCAAs are better utilized than free BCAAs.  Given that I get 4.5 grams of BCAAs in a 33 cent scoop of protein powder (and I don't gag drinking it), I'm dubious about the marginal benefit of adding free BCAAs once my calorie intake starts to balance out.

Ard,

Love your posts! Sorry I've only got this paltry reply:

Could just be the Creatine, could also be the fact that I'm starting the day off with a lot of apple juice. I'm way off the low carb protocol, because of the amount of exercise that I do. The other factor could be the caffeine intake. This week I stopped with the coffee and just went directly to no-doz.

Many factors involved. It's true, I'm regularly going to failure when I work out, so maybe that's the common denominator!

Kind Regards,

Dave

I'm absolutely a believer in creatine...where I see the major difference is in stamina.  As I approach the end of my sets I'm able to get that additional 1-2 reps that I don't seem to achieve when I'm not fully "loaded" so to speak.  Best part is, I'm not nearly fatigued at the conclusion of my workouts as I typically am where the creatine is not in my system.  On the track I also notice as well...my lap times continually improve throughout the entire session into the 4th and 5th miles.  I know I'm getting stronger and fitness is improving but until now I typically started strong and slowly declined middle to end.  Now it's the opposite...start building at the middle and continue to gain steam or at very least sustain until the end. Now for the glutamine - I've been taking it for well over a year, but after surgery in February, I doubled my intake primarily to aid in the healing process.  What I noticed is gains in strength that I'd not experienced before...and it happened rather quickly.  My strength on some of the exercises has increased 25% or more.  Where I was doing drop sets to failure I'm now able to do straight sets and not reach failure until the 3rd set in many cases.  I can't explain how this is occuring - although I've been doing more HIT style workouts since the beginning of the year than I've done in the past. So while I can't say for sure, since the glutamine dosage has increased I've gained some mass and definitely more strength.  So for me, I'm just as much a believer in the glutamine as the creatine...probably more. My two cents... Cards Fan "NO EXCUSES - THERE IS NO TOMORROW - THE TIME IS NOW!"