The Effect of a Plant Protein Isolate on Muscle Protein Synthesis in Humans at Rest and After Resistance Exercise

University of Limerick

Status: Completed

Conditions: Metabolism; Dietary Supplements; Exercise

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: NEAA; Dietary Supplement: PPI

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT05020808

2020_04_07_EHS

Details and patient eligibility

About

Plant-based proteins contain several amino acids that are essential to signal growth, reconditioning, maintenance and preservation of skeletal muscle mass. This study aims to inform on the nutrient activation of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) by feeding a plant protein isolate equivalent to 0.33 g of protein per kilogram of body mass.

Full description

Participants: 32 young, healthy men and women aged 18 - 35 years. Intervention: Plant protein isolate (PPI) and nonessential amino acid control (NEAA) Study Design: Block randomised control trial. Two group parallel design. Primary outcome: Myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (myoFSR).

Preliminary screening/familiarization consists of: medical history, dietary assessment and examination by a medical doctor and a qualified dietician, blood sample to be evaluated for health-related contraindications, body composition measurement by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), isokinetic knee extensor strength tests.

Pre-trial: A metered dose of deuterium oxide (5ml/kg) will be ingested and blood and/or saliva (~5ml) samples will be collected pre/post ingestion.

Experimental trial: Blood, saliva and bilateral m.vastus lateralis microbiopsies (~100 mg) collected. A unilateral resistance-training session consisting of knee extensor contractions will be completed. Following exercise cessation participants will ingest 0.33 g/kg body mass of either: a nonessential amino acid formulation or a plant-protein isolate. A saliva sample and a 2nd set of bilateral m.vastus lateralis microbiopsies are collected 3 h postingestion.

Enrollment: 33 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women aged 18 to 35 years

Exclusion criteria

• Known intolerance to any item contained in the protein products.
• Blood borne disease risk, current illness or medication that would adversely affect participation
• Known adverse reaction to venepuncture and/or biopsy
• Inability to undertake resistance exercise
• Inability to adhere to protocol guidelines

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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33 participants in 2 patient groups

Nonessential amino acid formulation (NEAA)

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Novel non-essential amino acid blend dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 400 ml of water. Postprandial muscle protein synthesis at rest, and after resistance exercise to be measured by deuterium incorporation in to skeletal muscle sampled by bilateral microbiopsies. Product Number: NEAA56812

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: NEAA

Plant Protein Isolate (PPI)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Plant protein isolate (Fava bean) dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 400 ml of water. Postprandial muscle protein synthesis at rest, and after resistance exercise to be measured by deuterium incorporation in to skeletal muscle sampled by bilateral microbiopsies. Product Number: FP2011273

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: PPI