Bioavailability of Plant Protein Amino Acids

Bioavailability of Amino Acids and Metabolic Products Following Oral Ingestion of Plant-Based Proteins in Young, Healthy Men and Women Aged 18-35y

This study aims to inform of the mechanism of action of plant-based protein by measuring the bioavailability (i.e. rate of appearance and magnitude of concentration in the circulation following oral ingestion) of key amino acid and metabolic products that regulate skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in humans.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bioavailability of Amino Acids Following Oral Ingestion of Plant-Based Proteins in Young, Healthy Men
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Pea-protein concentrate; Dietary supplement: Fava-bean protein concentrate; Dietary supplement: Chickpea protein concentrate; Dietary supplement: Red lentil protein concentrate; Dietary supplement: Non-essential amino acid blend; Dietary supplement: Whey protein concentrate

Detailed Description

Plant-based proteins contain several amino acids that are essential to signal muscle growth/repair and act as a substrate during muscle protein synthesis. However, compared to animal protein or free-amino acids, the bioavailability of certain essential amino acids may be compromised. Following selective processing (e.g. removal of carbohydrate and/or other anti-nutritive factors) food grade plant-based protein concentrates possibly confer greater bioavailability and bioactivity in vivo. This project explores the bioavailability and bioactivity of selected plant-based protein concentrates following oral ingestion in young, healthy men and women.

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Rob Davies, PhD; Phone Number: +353-(0)61-202700; Email: robert.davies@ul.ie
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Phil Jakeman, PhD; Email: phil.jakeman@ul.ie

Study Locations

• Ireland
  • Limerick, Ireland, V94 T9PX
    • Education and Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• No known intolerance to any item contained in the protein products.
• No blood borne disease risk, current illness or medication that would adversely affect participation
• No known adverse reaction to venepuncture

Exclusion Criteria:

• n/a

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pea-protein concentrate; Pea-protein concentrate dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Pea-protein concentrate; Pea-protein concentrate
Experimental: Fava-bean protein concentrate; Fava-bean protein concentrate dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Fava-bean protein concentrate; Fava-bean protein concentrate
Experimental: Chickpea protein concentrate; Chickpea protein concentrate dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Chickpea protein concentrate; Chickpea protein concentrate
Experimental: Red lentil protein concentrate; Red lentil protein concentrate dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Red lentil protein concentrate; Red lentil protein concentrate
Experimental: Non-essential amino acid blend; Non-essential amino acid blend dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Non-essential amino acid blend; Non-essential amino acid blend
Experimental: Whey protein concentrate; Whey protein concentrate dosed at 0.33 g/kg body mass in 500 ml of water.	Dietary supplement: Whey protein concentrate; Whey protein concentrate

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma amino acids	Plasma amino acids measured by HPLC	3 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Limerick
• Collaborators: Marigot Ltd.; Enterprise Ireland
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Phil Jakeman, PhD, University of Limerick

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 8, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): September 29, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 30, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 29, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Bioavailability of Amino Acids Following Oral Ingestion of Plant-Based Proteins in Young, Healthy Men
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019_12_02_EHS

Drug and device information, study documents

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