Effects of Protein Quality on Post-exercise Skeletal Muscle and Whole-body Protein Kinetics During Energy Deficit

Effects of Protein Quality on Post-exercise Skeletal Muscle and Whole-body Protein Kinetics During Negative Energy Balance

The optimal EAA-containing protein format necessary to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis and optimize whole-body net protein balance during caloric deprivation has not been determined. This study will address that gap in knowledge by examining post, whole-body exercise muscle and whole-body protein kinetic responses to ingesting varying EAA-containing protein formats after a 5 day period of negative energy balance. This study will provide the initial evidence to support the development of a recovery-based food product for military combat rations.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscle Protein Synthesis; Whole-body Protein Balance
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Essential Amino Acid Enriched Whey Protein; Dietary supplement: Whey Protein; Dietary supplement: Military Ration Entree

Detailed Description

Ten resistance-trained adults will complete this ~55-d randomized, cross-over study. Participants will participate in three, non-consecutive 5-d controlled energy deficit periods, each separated by a 14-d washout period (i.e., sufficient time to restore nitrogen and metabolic homeostasis after moderate weight loss). Post-exercise (whole-body exercise model) muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and whole-body protein turnover responses to varying EAA-containing protein formats will be determined the morning after completing the 5-d energy deficit.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Natick, Massachusetts, United States, 01760
      • US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged 18 - 35 years
• Body mass index < 30.0 kg/m2
• Healthy without evidence of chronic illness or musculoskeletal injury as determined by the USARIEM Office of Medical Support and Oversight (OMSO) or home duty station medical support
• Resistance exercise trained defined by self-report as performing ≥ 2 sessions/wk for previous 6 mo
• Refrain from taking any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Naprosyn®), or any other aspirin-containing product for 10 days before starting and at least 5 days after completing the study
• Willing to refrain from alcohol, smoking any nicotine product (includes e-cigarettes); vaping, chewing tobacco, caffeine, and dietary supplement use throughout the entire study period
• Supervisor approval for federal civilian employees and non-HRV active duty military personnel working within the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injuries that compromise exercise capability as determined by the USARIEM or home duty station Office of Medical Support and Oversight (OMSO)
• Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
• Abnormal PT/PTT test or problems with blood clotting
• History of complications with lidocaine
• Present condition of alcoholism, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
• Blood donation within 8-wk of beginning the study
• Pregnant, trying to become pregnant, and/or breastfeeding (results of urine pregnancy test or self-report for breastfeeding will be obtained before body composition testing)
• Unwillingness or inability to consume study diets or foods provided

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Essential Amino Acid Enriched Whey Protein; protein powder formulation that includes whey and free-form essential amino acids	Dietary supplement: Essential Amino Acid Enriched Whey Protein; protein powder formulation that includes whey and free-form essential amino acids
Active Comparator: Whey Protein; commercially available whey protein isolate	Dietary supplement: Whey Protein; commercially available whey protein isolate
Active Comparator: Military Ration Entree; chili and beans entree; current meal component of the meals ready to eat rations	Dietary supplement: Military Ration Entree; chili and beans entree; current meal component of the meals ready to eat rations

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
How fast participants build skeletal muscle after ingesting varying forms of essential amino acid-containing proteins after exercise	Assessed using stable isotope infusions of phenylalanine.	~4.5 hour measure of muscle protein synthesis

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
How well participants suppress the degradation of body proteins while stimulating the growth of new proteins after ingesting varying forms of essential amino acid-containing proteins after exercise.	Assessed using stable isotope infusions of tyrosine.	~4.5 hour measure of whole-body protein balance

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
• Collaborators: University of Arkansas
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stefan Pasiakos, PhD, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Gwin JA, Church DD, Hatch-McChesney A, Allen JT, Wilson MA, Varanoske AN, Carrigan CT, Murphy NE, Margolis LM, Carbone JW, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA, Pasiakos SM. Essential amino acid-enriched whey enhances post-exercise whole-body protein balance during energy deficit more than iso-nitrogenous whey or a mixed-macronutrient meal: a randomized, crossover study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Jan 7;18(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s12970-020-00401-5.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 25, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 13, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 13, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 28, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 2, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 12, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2020
• Last Verified: March 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-06HC

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No