Exercise recovery
How quickly the body returns to normal after hard exercise. It is measured by muscle damage markers such as creatine kinase, by how fast strength comes back, and by soreness over the following days.
72 supplements analyzed and ranked by clinical evidence.
Supplements72
Supplement Evidence
Main Effects
Branched-Chain Amino Acids142210
Anabolic recovery +MPS
Lower breakdown -CK
Glycogen sparing +135%
Strong
Omega-3 Fatty Acids288519
Recovery: less damage/inflammation
+23pp ROM,+52% O3i
Faster muscle rebuilding
Strong
Citrulline23013
Reps +53%, soreness −40%
Lactate −61%, fatigue ↓
Power ↑, lactate clearance
Arginine/flow + performance
Soreness/recovery + reps
~+4.8% power
Moderate
Ribose2068
ATP recovery ↑
Soreness/damage markers ↓
ATP recovery +6.5%
Less soreness/CK
HF markers improved
Weak