Q: I am an avid bodybuilder, and I am always looking for natural ways to build muscle and lose fat. Arachidonic acid supplementation at levels of 1,000 mg. per day has recently been in vogue in the bodybuilding industry for increasing protein synthesis and promoting fat loss. My question: Can supplementation of AA be toxic at levels of 1,000 mg. per day? I have read many success stories about the AA supplement but have also read a couple regarding cases of ulcerative colitis and blood in the supplement user's stool.
A:Any additional supplementation with arachidonic acid is potentially very dangerous due to an increase in inflammation. The way to build muscle mass is the activation of mTOR, which requires a constant flow of amino acids and a slight amount of insulin for stimulation. This is best achieved by the Zone Diet adjusted for your lean body mass and level of exercise activity as described in “The Zone” and “Mastering the Zone.”