Phosphatidic acid supplementation increases skeletal muscle hypertrophy and strength

Introduction The accretion of skeletal muscle tissue can be critical for a varied population including athletes and elderly. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy is largely mediated through increased muscle protein synthesis. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been shown to regulate rates of muscle protein synthesis and a mechanical stimulus (resistance exercise) has been shown to activate mTOR with the phospholipid Phosphatidic Acid (PA) playing a key role. A first pilot study found that oral supplementation with soy-derived PA in athletes undergoing progressive resistance training very likely resulted in greater increases in squat strength and lean mass over the placebo. However, this pilot study was likely underpowered, the workout was not supervised and no direct measures of skeletal muscle hypertrophy were taken. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PA on body composition, strength, power and muscular hypertrophy.