Protein Quality to Support Increased Muscle Protein Synthesis

Efficacy of Higher Versus Lower Quality Protein Supplementation to Support Increased Muscle Protein Synthesis in Older Men

The age-related decline in muscle mass and strength is collectively referred to as sarcopenia. Canadian recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein intake (0.8 g/kg/d), however, many expert groups have advocated that older persons should increase their daily intake to ~1.2 g/kg/d to support the preservation of muscle mass. The use of plant-based proteins in food formulation has recently become of interest. This study will examine the impact of consuming higher- versus lower-quality protein supplements on muscle protein synthesis in healthy older men.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Protein Supplementation

Detailed Description

This study will examine the impact of consuming higher- versus lower-quality protein supplements on the integrated rates of muscle protein synthesis in healthy older men. Briefly, participants will consume dietary protein at the RDA for the entire duration of the protocol (2 weeks). Participants will be randomized to consuming collagen (control - CON), whey (WHEY), or pea (PEA) protein supplements twice daily for one week. We will examine the ability of different qualities of protein supplements to stimulate integrated rates of muscle protein synthesis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 45
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: James McKendry, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 365 888-2291; Email: mckendrj@mcmaster.ca
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Jonathan McLeod, M.Sc.; Email: mcleoj2@mcmaster.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L8
      • Ivor Wynne Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years to 80 years (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men, between the ages of 65 - 80 years (inclusive)
2. Willing and able to provide informed consent
3. Be in general good health, non-smoking
4. Have a body mass index (BMI) between 20-38 kg/m2 (inclusive)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of tobacco or related products.
2. Veganism or vegetarianism
3. Any concurrent medical, orthopedic, or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise his/her ability to comply with the study requirements.
4. Use assistive walking devices (e.g., cane or walker)
5. History of cancer within the last 5 years, except basal cell carcinoma, non-squamous skin carcinoma, prostate cancer or carcinoma in situ with no significant progression over the past 2 years.
6. Significant orthopedic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, liver, infectious disease, immune disorder, or metabolic/endocrine disorders or other disease that would preclude oral protein supplement ingestion and/or assessment of safety and study objectives.
7. Any cachexia-related condition (e.g., relating to cancer, tuberculosis or human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome) or any genetic muscle diseases or disorders
8. Current illnesses which could interfere with the study (e.g. prolonged severe diarrhea, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing)
9. Hypersensitivity or known allergy to any of the components in the test formulations.
10. Excessive alcohol consumption (>21 units/week)
11. History of bleeding diathesis, platelet or coagulation disorders, or antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy (up to 81mg of baby aspirin per day taken as a prophylactic is permitted).
12. History of statin myalgia.
13. Personal or family history of clotting disorder or deep vein thrombosis;
14. Routine/daily usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS, prescription use or daily use of over the counter medication), use of corticosteroids, testosterone replacement therapy (ingestion, injection, or transdermal), any anabolic steroid, creatine, whey protein supplements, casein or branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) within 45 days prior to screening.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Whey Protein Supplement; Supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day)	Dietary supplement: Protein Supplementation; Participants will continue to ingest the standardized diet; however, supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day or 50g supplemental protein/day)
Experimental: Pea Protein Supplement; Supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day)	Dietary supplement: Protein Supplementation; Participants will continue to ingest the standardized diet; however, supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day or 50g supplemental protein/day)
Experimental: Collagen Protein Supplement; Supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day)	Dietary supplement: Protein Supplementation; Participants will continue to ingest the standardized diet; however, supplements will be consumed twice daily (25g per serving x 2 servings/day or 50g supplemental protein/day)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Integrated Muscle Protein Synthesis	Integrated protein synthesis will be determined during 7 days of consuming the RDA of protein (control phase), and during 7 days of supplementation with a randomised protein supplement (Supplement phase). Integrated rates of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) will be determined using the D2O method. Briefly, 2H enrichment of saliva (precursor) and muscle (product) pools (relative to 1H) will be determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry and 'myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate' (%/day) determined.	7 days x 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Anabolic Signalling Proteins	The effect of each protein supplement on anabolic signalling proteins 1h post-ingestion. Briefly, the phosphorylation status (activation) of anabolic signalling proteins will be determined by western blot analysis, and the fold change from that basal state will be presented.	1 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: McMaster University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stuart Phillips, Ph.D., McMaster University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 19, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 20, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aging; Sarcopenia; Muscle; Muscle Protein Synthesis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 7360

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

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