Effects of Protein Blends on Muscle Protein Synthesis in Healthy Older Adults

A Randomized, Controlled Double Blind Acute Study: Effects of Protein Blends on Muscle Protein Synthesis and Breakdown in Healthy Older Adults

During aging there is a tendency for muscle protein synthesis (growth) to become less efficient and the resulting consequence leads to reduced muscle mass (sarcopenia) which can affect strength and mobility. Protein consumption may be one opportunity to alleviate this problem especially when consumed in appropriate amounts following resistance training. This study is designed to determine if a soy dairy protein blend, shown to be effective in younger adults, will produce beneficial muscle protein synthesis in older healthy adults following resistance exercise.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscle Synthesis
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Soy Dairy Protein Blend; Dietary supplement: Positive Control (Dairy Whey Protein)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Galveston, Texas, United States, 77555
      • University of Texas Medical Branch

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 55 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

55-70 yr olds Stable Body weight

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Exercise training (>2 weekly sessions of moderate to high intensity aerobic or resistance exercise)
2. Significant heart, liver, kidney, blood, respiratory disease or thyroid issues
3. Peripheral vascular disease
4. Orthopedic injury that prohibits participation in the exercise training
5. Diabetes mellitus or other untreated endocrine disease
6. Active cancer (all groups) and history of cancer
7. Acute infectious disease or history of chronic infections (e.g. TB, hepatitis, HIV, herpes)
8. Neurologic Injury or disease
9. Recent (within 6 months) treatment with anabolic steroids, or corticosteroids.
10. Alcohol or drug abuse
11. Tobacco use (smoking or chewing)
12. Malnutrition (BMI < 20 kg/m2, hypoalbuminemia, and/or hypotransferrinemia)
13. Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)
14. Low hemoglobin levels (below normal values)
15. Food allergies
16. Taking dietary supplements such as green tea, omega 3 fatty acids, etc.
17. Females

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Soy Dairy Protein Blend; 30 grams of Soy Dairy Protein Blend given as a single beverage following leg resistance exercise	Dietary supplement: Soy Dairy Protein Blend
Active Comparator: Positive Control (Dairy Whey Protein); 30 grams of Dairy Whey Protein will be given as a single beverage following leg resistance exercise	Dietary supplement: Positive Control (Dairy Whey Protein)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fractional Synthetic Rate (Muscle Protein Synthesis)	The fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of mixed muscle proteins will be calculated from the incorporation rate of L-[ring-13C6]Phenylalanine into the mixed muscle proteins, and the free-tissue phenylalanine enrichment.	baseline, 3 hrs, 5 hrs

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Markers	Proteins will be assessed that are markers of oxidative damage and inflammation (NFkB, IL-1, IL-6) and proteolysis (MuRF, MAFBx).	baseline, 3 hrs, 5 hrs
Intracellular Signalling Genes and Proteins	Phosphorylation of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway will be measured using Western blot techniques	baseline, 3 hrs, 5 hrs

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: DuPont Nutrition and Health
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Blake Rasmussen, PhD, University of Texas

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Borack MS, Reidy PT, Husaini SH, Markofski MM, Deer RR, Richison AB, Lambert BS, Cope MB, Mukherjea R, Jennings K, Volpi E, Rasmussen BB. Soy-Dairy Protein Blend or Whey Protein Isolate Ingestion Induces Similar Postexercise Muscle Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Signaling and Protein Synthesis Responses in Older Men. J Nutr. 2016 Dec;146(12):2468-2475. doi: 10.3945/jn.116.231159. Epub 2016 Oct 26.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): May 6, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 7, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2019
• Last Verified: October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle; sarcopenia; mTOR; soy; older; whey
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB #12-226