Investigating the Consumption of Different Protein Rich Whole Food Sources on Muscle Growth in Trained Males and Females (FFT)

Assessing the Muscle Protein Synthetic Response Following the Ingestion of a Variety of Protein Rich Whole Foods Compared to an Isolated Protein Source.

Background To date, most of the literature investigating the role of dietary protein in muscle growth has focused on isolated protein sources. However, dietary protein is most commonly consumed within a whole food source. Consuming dietary protein within a whole food matrix may additionally stimulate muscle growth. The idea being, there may be other components within food, capable of producing a greater response.

Objectives: To assess the effect of consuming a variety of whole food sources, on the stimulation of muscle growth compared to an isolated protein source following a single bout of lower body resistance exercise.

Methods Young healthy resistance-trained volunteers will consume a protein rich whole food source, following a bout of lower body resistance exercise. Stable isotope IV infusions and repeated blood and muscle samples will be taken to assess protein digestion and absorption, as well as muscle protein synthesis rates.

Value of Research:

To determine whether whole food sources potentiate muscle protein synthesis rates (and to what extent across whole food sources) compared to an isolated protein source. In doing so, we can further investigate the nutrients involved that may be contributing to this effect.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nutritional Intervention Using Protein Rich Whole Food Sources
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: whole food sources

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 66
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Devon
    • Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom, EX1 2LU
      • University of Exeter

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and Females
• BMI 18.5 - 30 kg/m2
• Aged 18 - 40 years
• Structured Resistance training consistently for > 6 months
• A 5-7 day "washout" period from any supplementation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age >40 years
• Body mass index (BMI) <18.5 or >30 kg/m2
• Any metabolic impairments
• Any cardiovascular impairments
• High blood pressure (≥140/90 mmHg)
• Any gastrointestinal disorders
• Any medications known to affect protein and/or amino acid metabolism
• A personal or family history of epilepsy, seizures or schizophrenia, motor disorder
• Chronic over the counter use of pharmaceuticals (> 1 month)
• Allergic to any of the whole foods included in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pork; Locally sourced	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.
Experimental: Salmon; Locally sourced	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.
Experimental: Mycoprotein; Provided by Marlow Foods	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.
Experimental: Lentils; Red	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.
Experimental: Egg; Local supplier	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.
Active Comparator: Egg whites; Local Supplier	Dietary supplement: whole food sources; Foods selected are naturally high in protein and consumed by the general population as part of a meal.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postprandial Muscle protein Synthetic Response following the ingestion of a protein rich whole food source.	84 participants will undergo a single bout of lower body exercise followed by the ingestion of one of the six protein rich whole food sources. Using stable isotope tracer methodology and muscle biopsy samples, the postprandial muscle protein synthetic response will be able to be calculated.	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Exeter
• Collaborators: Marlow Foods Ltd
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Professor Wall, University of Exeter

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 4, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: FFT

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