The Benefits of Hemp Protein Supplementation During Resistance Training

Forty physically active men and women aged 18-45y will take part in an 8-week resistance training program, randomized (double blind) 1:1 into each of two groups. Twenty participants will be randomized to receive 60 g/d of hemp powder (containing approximately 40 g protein and 9 g oil) supplementation and 20 randomized to receive 60 g/d of soy supplementation (matched to the hemp for macronutrients and calories) during eight weeks of training. Each participant will complete testing before and after the intervention for assessment of body composition (lean tissue, fat, and bone mass), strength, central fatigue, markers of inflammation, and bone resorption. Over the 8-weeks of training, participants will train four-five days per week for 1-1.5 hours per session with exercises targeting all major muscle groups. The training will involve a "two day split" where different muscle groups are trained on two consecutive days (day 1 involves chest, back, and arms; day 2 legs, shoulders, and abdominals). Resistance training will provide the necessary stimulus for protein synthesis to optimize the effect of a protein-containing nutritional supplement. The hemp or soy powder will be consumed in two doses (i.e. 30 g powder containing 20 g protein per dose) immediately after exercise sessions and one hour after exercise. This dosing regimen is optimal for stimulating muscle protein synthesis and building muscle mass . On the one non-training day per week the two doses will be consumed with meals.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Hemp powder; Dietary supplement: Soy Powder

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Saskatchewan
    • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5B2
      • University of Saskatchewan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 6 months experience with resistance training

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergies to hemp or soy
• Consumption of other nutritional supplements in previous month
• Answered "yes" to questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

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: Hemp powder; Hemp powder supplement	Dietary supplement: Hemp powder; Hemp powder supplement
Active Comparator: Soy powder; Soy powder supplement	Dietary supplement: Soy Powder; Soy powder supplement

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in lean tissue mass (kg)	Lean tissue mass measured with dual energy x-ray absrorptiometry	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in fat mass (kg)	Fat mass as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	8 weeks
Change in bone mass (grams)	Bone mass as measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry	8 weeks
Change in elbow flexor muscle thickness (cm)	Muscle thickness as assessed by ultrasound	8 weeks
Change in knee extensor muscle thickness (cm)	muscle thickness as measured by ultrasound	8 weeks
Change in bench press strength (kg)	Bench press strength as assess on a plate-loaded machine by the 1-RM method	8 weeks
Change in arm curl strength (kg)	Arm curl strength as assessed with dumbbells by the 1-RM method	8 weeks
Change in leg press strength (kg)	Leg press strength as assessed on a leg-press machine by the 1-RM method	8 weeks
Change in inflammation by interleukin-6 (mmol/l) levels	Interleukin-6 levels measured from saliva samples	8 weeks
Change in inflammation by C-reactive protein (mmol/l) levels	C-reactive protein levels measured from saliva samples	8 weeks
Change in bone resorption (N-telopeptides) (mmol/l)	N-telopeptides measured from urine samples	8 weeks
Change in voluntary muscle activation (Nm)	Voluntary muscle activation as measured by the interpolated twitch technique	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Philip Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): August 20, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 5, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 2, 2017
• Last Verified: May 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 15-95

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No