Determining the Effect of Protein Quality on Post-exercise Anabolism in Active Youth (PQS)

Anabolic Potential of Dairy and Dairy Proteins for Active Children and Adolescents

Leucine-enriched proteins (e.g., dairy) are more effective than plant-based sources for supporting post-exercise rates of muscle protein synthesis in adults. However, the impact of protein quality on protein synthesis and acute markers of growth in active children are unknown. Using a randomized crossover design, the investigators will compare the effects of ingesting 0.35g/kg fat free mass (FFM) of either milk protein concentrate (MPC), rice protein isolate (RPI), or soy protein isolate (SPI) following a bout of variable intensity exercise with whole-body protein kinetics (i.e., oxidation, synthesis, breakdown, and net balance) determined by oral [13C]phenylalanine tracer methodology.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Dietary Proteins
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Milk Protein Concentrate; Dietary supplement: Rice Protein Isolate; Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate

Detailed Description

In adults, dairy protein is more effective than non-dairy sources at supporting recovery from exercise; however, it is not well understood if protein quality impacts short-term markers of growth in the same manner in active youth. Therefore, it is essential to understand whether different anabolic responses to varying protein quality persist in children, in order to maximize lean tissue accretion specifically during these periods of exponential growth. Thus, assessing the impact of protein quality on post-exercise protein synthesis and whole-body protein balance in active children would help provide valuable maturation-specific nutritional information. Moreover, these studies investigating the effects of protein quality in adults required the use of invasive techniques (i.e., muscle biopsies and indwelling catheters for blood draws) and are not suitable for vulnerable populations like children. As a result, the study of protein quality in children requires non-invasive alternative approaches and novel methods to advance our understanding of the nutritional best practices for active youth.

The overall objective of this investigation is to examine the impact of protein quality on post-exercise protein synthesis and acute markers of "growth" (i.e., net protein balance) in active youth (children and adolescents). Using the minimally invasive indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) methodology, we will determine the ability of milk, rice, and soy proteins to support whole-body protein synthesis and net-protein balance during recovery from an acute bout of sport specific moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

The primary aim of the present study is to compare the ability of dairy and non-dairy alternatives (i.e., plant-based protein sources) to support post-exercise protein synthesis and net-protein balance in active, growing youth. The investigators hypothesize that the ingestion of milk protein concentrate (MPC) will result in a lower indicator amino acid oxidation (i.e., greatest protein synthesis) and higher net protein balance after exercise in both children and adolescents, compared to an isonitrogenous (i.e., equal protein amount) quantity of soy (SPI) and rice (RPI) protein isolate. This is predicated on the relative deficiency of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and other essential amino acids (EAA), specifically lysine and methionine, in RPI and SPI respectively, compared to MPC.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 24
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Daniel Moore, PhD; Phone Number: 4169464088; Email: dr.moore@utoronto.ca
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hugo JW Fung, MSc; Phone Number: 6472098764; Email: hugojernwai.fung@mail.utoronto.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2C9
      • Recruiting
      • Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
      • Contact: Daniel Moore, PhD; Email: dr.moore@utoronto.ca
      • Contact: Hugo JW Fung, MSc; Email: hugojernwai.fung@mail.utoronto.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 16 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy will be defined as screened by the PAR-Q+ (The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for everyone)
• Regularly active, as defined by being in the top 20% of age specific scores on the iPAQ (the International Physical Activity Questionnaire)
• Between the ages of 8 to 16 years
• An age and sex-specific minimum of 75th percentile Beep Test level

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to meet health and physical activity guidelines according to the PAR-Q+ and iPAQ
• Inability to adhere to any of the protocol guidelines
• Biological age outside of -0.5 to +1.5 years from PHV for adolescents, and > -1 years from PHV for children

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Children; Participants underwent 3 metabolic trials in a randomized crossover fashion, where they were provided with an isonitrogenous quantities of either milk protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and rice protein isolate following a standardized bout of variable intensity exercise.	Dietary supplement: Milk Protein Concentrate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 363 Carbs (g): 5.60 Protein (g): 82.60 Fat (g): 1.12 Total BCAA (g): 15.67 Total EAA (g): 34.66 Total AA (g): 83.27; Other Names: MPC, Idaho Milk Products (Grade A); Dietary supplement: Rice Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 394 Carbs (g): 6.50 Protein (g): 86.70 Fat (g): 2.39 Total BCAA (g): 14.98 Total EAA (g): 30.62 Total AA (g): 86.11; Other Names: RPI, Axiom Foods - Organic Oryzatein Silk 90; Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 377 Carbs (g): 2.12 Protein (g): 88.8 Fat (g): 0.60 Total BCAA (g): 13.88 Total EAA (g): 31.74 Total AA (g): 89.39; Other Names: MyProtein - Soy Protein Isolate
Active Comparator: Adolescent Females; Participants underwent 3 metabolic trials in a randomized crossover fashion, where they were provided with an isonitrogenous quantities of either milk protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and rice protein isolate following a standardized bout of variable intensity exercise.	Dietary supplement: Milk Protein Concentrate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 363 Carbs (g): 5.60 Protein (g): 82.60 Fat (g): 1.12 Total BCAA (g): 15.67 Total EAA (g): 34.66 Total AA (g): 83.27; Other Names: MPC, Idaho Milk Products (Grade A); Dietary supplement: Rice Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 394 Carbs (g): 6.50 Protein (g): 86.70 Fat (g): 2.39 Total BCAA (g): 14.98 Total EAA (g): 30.62 Total AA (g): 86.11; Other Names: RPI, Axiom Foods - Organic Oryzatein Silk 90; Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 377 Carbs (g): 2.12 Protein (g): 88.8 Fat (g): 0.60 Total BCAA (g): 13.88 Total EAA (g): 31.74 Total AA (g): 89.39; Other Names: MyProtein - Soy Protein Isolate
Active Comparator: Adolescent Males; Participants underwent 3 metabolic trials in a randomized crossover fashion, where they were provided with an isonitrogenous quantities of either milk protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and rice protein isolate following a standardized bout of variable intensity exercise.	Dietary supplement: Milk Protein Concentrate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 363 Carbs (g): 5.60 Protein (g): 82.60 Fat (g): 1.12 Total BCAA (g): 15.67 Total EAA (g): 34.66 Total AA (g): 83.27; Other Names: MPC, Idaho Milk Products (Grade A); Dietary supplement: Rice Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 394 Carbs (g): 6.50 Protein (g): 86.70 Fat (g): 2.39 Total BCAA (g): 14.98 Total EAA (g): 30.62 Total AA (g): 86.11; Other Names: RPI, Axiom Foods - Organic Oryzatein Silk 90; Dietary supplement: Soy Protein Isolate; Protein provided at 0.35 g/kg fat free-mass. Macronutrient and Amino Acid Content provided below. Per 100 g protein powder: Calories (Cal): 377 Carbs (g): 2.12 Protein (g): 88.8 Fat (g): 0.60 Total BCAA (g): 13.88 Total EAA (g): 31.74 Total AA (g): 89.39; Other Names: MyProtein - Soy Protein Isolate

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
F13CO2	Rate of 13CO2 excretion	The rate of 13CO2 excretion based upon baseline (t=30 minutes) and isotopic steady state (t=360-420 minutes) 13CO2 enrichments in the breath and resting VCO2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Whole-Body Phenylalanine Kinetics	Whole-Body Net Protein Balance	Whole-Body Net Protein Balance will be calculated based upon baseline (t=30 minutes) and isotopic steady state (t=360-420 minutes) 13CO2 enrichments in the breath and 1-[13C]phenylalanine enrichments in the urine

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Toronto
• Collaborators: Dairy Management Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Daniel Moore, PhD, University of Toronto; Study Director: Hugo JW Fung, MSc, University of Toronto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): September 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 13, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 13, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): September 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 2, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 18, 2022
• Last Verified: January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: adolescent; children; growth; protein quality; indicator amino acid oxidation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Chelating Agents; Sequestering Agents; Caseins
• Other Study ID Numbers: 36378

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