Effects of Essential Amino Acid-enriched Whey and Carbohydrate Co-ingestion on Protein Kinetics

Determining Optimal Energy Substrate to Enhance Postprandial Protein Kinetic Responses to Essential Amino Acid-enriched Whey During Energy Deficit

Previous work conducted by the Investigators demonstrates that an essential amino acid(EAA)-enriched whey protein combination format is an efficient EAA/protein format to support enhanced whole-body protein balance and sustain muscle protein synthesis compared to isonitrogenous amounts of whey alone or a mixed-macronutrient meal. However, additional work is needed to optimize the formulation to ensure the best possible muscle and whole-body anabolic responses are achieved. This includes addressing the potential value of adding non-EAA/protein components to support energy demands. Providing additional non-protein energy to an EAA-enriched whey protein formulation may reduce the proportion of exogenous amino acids directed towards energy production thereby preserving its use for muscle protein synthesis. However, whether suppressing exogenous amino acid oxidation by providing additional carbohydrate allows for a greater muscle protein synthetic stimulus during moderate energy deficit (- 30% total energy requirements) is unknown. Therefore, this study will test the effects of EAA-enriched whey protein plus carbohydrate versus EAA-enriched whey plus additional EAA using a randomized, cross-sectional longitudinal study design.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Energy Deficit
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: EAA+W & Carbohydrate; Dietary supplement: EAA+W & EAA

Detailed Description

In this study the Investigators will test the effects of EAA-enriched whey protein plus carbohydrate versus EAA-enriched whey plus additional EAA using a randomized, cross-sectional longitudinal study design. Thirty healthy, functional and aerobic exercise trained adults will complete two, 5-d controlled feeding phases, one maintaining energy balance and one inducing energy deficit in random order and separated by at least a 7d washout period. The difference in post-exercise (whole-body exercise model) muscle protein synthesis and whole-body protein turnover between the study treatments will be determined the day after each 5-d controlled feeding phase. This design will test the following hypotheses: 1) The magnitude of post-exercise anabolic response to EAA-enriched whey protein plus carbohydrate are enhanced compared to EAA-enriched whey protein plus additional EAA during energy deficit; 2) Regardless of protein treatment, the magnitude of anabolic response will be reduced during energy deficit compared to energy balance.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 17
• 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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body mass index < 30.0 kg/m2
• Weight stable in the past 2 months (± 2.27 kg)
• 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
• Functional exercise (i.e., step ups, box jumps, body mass movements) and/or aerobic exercise trained defined by self-report as performing ≥ 2 sessions/wk for previous 6 months
• Willing to refrain from taking any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Naprosyn®), or any other aspirin-containing product for 10 days before the first ~8.5 hour laboratory day and at least 5 days after completing the last ~8.5 hour laboratory day
• Willing to refrain from alcohol, smoking any nicotine product (includes e-cigarettes), vaping, chewing tobacco, caffeine, and dietary supplements after the completing the baseline period until the end of the study
• Must obtain supervisor approval for federal civilian employees and non-HRV active duty military personnel working within the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center
• Females must have normal menstrual cycles between 26-32 days in duration; 5 menstrual cycles within the past 6 months; or able to provide documentation of oral/hormonal contraceptive use which contains low-dose estrogen/progesterone to maintain continuous levels throughout the 28-day cycle (i.e., no placebos)

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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 as assessed by OMSO
• Participation in 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 due to personal preference, dietary restrictions, and/or food allergies
• Unwillingness to adhere to study physical restrictions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: EAA+W & Carbohydrate: Balance (BAL) first, then Deficit (DEF); Participants will consume an essential amino acid plus whey (EAA+W) beverage with added Carbohydrate during energy balance (BAL) first, then again during energy deficit (DEF).	Dietary supplement: EAA+W & Carbohydrate; Essential amino acid plus whey beverage with added carbohydrate
Active Comparator: EAA+W & Carbohydrate: DEF first, then BAL; Participants will consume an essential amino acid plus whey beverage with added Carbohydrate during energy deficit first, then again during energy balance.	Dietary supplement: EAA+W & Carbohydrate; Essential amino acid plus whey beverage with added carbohydrate
Active Comparator: EAA+W & EAA: BAL first, then DEF; Participants will consume an essential amino acid (EAA) plus whey beverage with added EAA during energy balance first, then again during energy deficit.	Dietary supplement: EAA+W & EAA; Essential amino acid plus whey beverage with added essential amino acid
Active Comparator: EAA+W & EAA: DEF first, then BAL; Participants will consume an essential amino acid (EAA) plus whey beverage with added EAA during energy deficit first, then again during energy balance.	Dietary supplement: EAA+W & EAA; Essential amino acid plus whey beverage with added essential amino acid

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Whole-body Protein Balance	Whole-body net balance will be determined using stable-isotope methodologies	approximately 5.75 hours
Whole-body Protein Synthesis	Whole-body protein synthesis will be determined using stable-isotope methodologies	approximately 5.75 hours
Whole-body Protein Breakdown	Whole-body protein breakdown will be determined using stable-isotope methodologies	approximately 5.75 hours
Muscle Protein Synthesis	Muscle protein synthesis will be determined using stable-isotope methodologies	approximately 5.75 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
• Collaborators: University of Arkansas; Eastern Michigan University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jess A Gwin, PhD, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 9, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 23, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): August 23, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 2, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): November 9, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle protein synthesis; whole-body protein turnover; protein kinetics
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20-14HC

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No