Figure 2. The changes in the sum of plasma branched-chain amino acids concentrations and plasma lactate concentration during incremental cycling exercise performed before and after the 5-weeks of the endurance training.

The changes in the sum of plasma BCAA concentration ([∑ BCAA]_pl, A) and plasma lactate concentration ([La⁻]_pl), B) during incremental exercise performed before (black bars) and after (white bars) the endurance training. The impact of factors: exercise intensity (I) and endurance training (T) on the analyzed variables is presented (repeated measures 2-way ANOVA, 2-sided p-value). Asterisk (*) represents significantly lower concentrations from 180 W, 120 W and from rest (p < 0.01) and single cross (+) denotes significantly higher concentrations from the previous data point (p < 0.01). In the case of ([La⁻]_pl significant interaction between the two factors was observed (2-way ANOVA, I*T). Data are shown as mean ±  S.E.M. Abbreviation: VO_2max – maximal oxygen uptake; PO_max –  power output reached at 100% of maximal oxygen uptake. The percentage of VO_2max at the time zero represents the fraction of VO_2max measured in sitting position before exercise.