Insect Protein and Muscle Protein Signaling

Insect Protein - a New and Sustainable Protein Source to Maintain and Build Muscle

Randomized parallel study investing the effect of intake of different protein sources (whey, insect and pea) on the muscle protein synthesis. Activation of the signaling pathway leading to muscle protein synthesis is investigated by western blotting and Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR or PCR). Urine, blood and muscle is moreover investigated by metabolomics analysis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sarcopenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: insect, pea or whey protein

Detailed Description

Background:

Sarcopenia is a syndrome highly prevalent in the older population, characterized by muscle loss and a decrease in muscle strength. This leads to loss of physical function, decreased life quality and well-being and an increased risk of early death. Research has shown that both ingestion of protein and physical activity is able to diminish the loss of muscle mass during aging and thereby reduce the prevalence of sarcopenia and diminish the consequence of the disease. This study will investigate if more sustainable protein sources of good quality can increase the muscle protein synthesis and thereby prevent sarcopenia.

Aim:

The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of insect protein on the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. The effects of protein will both be studied alone and in combination with exercise in perspective of preventing loss of both muscle mass and muscle strength. The potential of insect protein will be elucidated by comparison with other alternative plant-based protein sources in this case pea protein. In addition, whey protein will be included as a positive control as it may be regarded as the most established dietary protein source combatting muscle loss.

Method:

Young(18-30 years old) healthy men (n=60) are randomized in 3 groups to ingest either insect protein, pea protein or whey protein. Urine are collected 24 hours prior to the experiment while a blood sample and a muscle biopsy is collected at the beginning of the study. The subjects are instructed to perform one-leg exercise (knee extension, 5 sets of 10 repetitions, 10 repetitions-maximum) after which the subjects ingest the assigned protein bolus. Urine and blood samples are collected in the following hours and one muscle biopsy is collected from both the exercised and the non-exercised leg at 3 hours after protein ingestion. The expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein related to the mTORC pathway in the muscle is investigated by qPCR and western blotting. In addition, metabolites in urine, blood plasma and muscle tissue are investigated by metabolomics analysis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Aarhus, Denmark, 8000
    • Department of Public Health,

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male
• 18-30 year
• able to read and understand danish

Exclusion Criteria:

• smoking
• resistance training more than 1 time pr month
• endurance training more than 2 hours pr week
• Allergy toward shellfish, house dust mites or the protein sources.
• knee problems effecting the exercise
• weight change more than 5 kg the last half year
• medicine which can effect the protein turnover
• Disease in joint, or muscle as well as metabolic diseases.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Insect protein; The participants are are given insect protein	Dietary supplement: insect, pea or whey protein; The protein powder is dissolved in 400 mL water and given relative to lean body mass, 0.25 g protein pr kg lean body mass.
Experimental: Pea protein; The participants are are given pea protein	Dietary supplement: insect, pea or whey protein; The protein powder is dissolved in 400 mL water and given relative to lean body mass, 0.25 g protein pr kg lean body mass.
Experimental: Whey protein; The participants are are given whey protein	Dietary supplement: insect, pea or whey protein; The protein powder is dissolved in 400 mL water and given relative to lean body mass, 0.25 g protein pr kg lean body mass.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Expression and phosphorylation of signaling proteins and their mRNA by Western Blotting and PCR	Change in expression and phosphorylation of signaling proteins and the mRNA related the muscle protein synthesis.	4 hours
Blod and urine metabolism by NMR	Both blod and urine are analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics to enlighten changes in the metabolites.	4 hours
Muscle metabolism by NMR	The muscle metabolites are quantified before intervention, after protein and after protein end exercise.	3 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
BMI	Control parameter between groups. Measured before the study day.	1 hour
General physical activity	in the last 3 month. Self-reported through a questionnaire.	3 months
Blood glucose	Blood glucose measured at 7 time points over the 4 hour period.	4 hours
Blood Insulin	Blood insulin is measured at 7 time points over the 4 hour period.	4 hours
Food intake, calories and distribution of macro nutrients.	Control parameter between groups. Self-reported diet report.	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Aarhus
• Collaborators: AP Moeller Foundation; Beckett Foundation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 8, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 10, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 31, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Nuclear magnetic resonance; mTORC metabolomics,; Western blotting; Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: Proteinlab P4 Insect

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: All analysis will be performed within the research team.

Drug and device information, study documents

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