The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Muscle Protein Synthesis

The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Muscle Protein Synthesis Following Protein Ingestion and Resistance Exercise in Young Women

The combination of dietary protein ingestion and resistance exercise are essential to increase muscle protein synthesis. The vast majority of studies assessing protein intake following resistance exercise in young adults has been conducted exclusively in men or in studies where both men and women are assessed. The increase in muscle mass is thought to be impacted by sex hormones that fluctuate across different phases of the menstrual cycle. However, the effect of menstrual cycle phase on muscle protein synthesis following exercise is not known.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscle Protein Synthesis; Menstrual Cycle Phase
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Phase of the menstrual cycle

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female, aged 18-40 years
• BMI between 18 and 30 kg/m2
• Recreationally active
• Regular menstrual cycle

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking or use of tobacco containing products
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Currently on any form of hormonal contraception
• Post-menopausal
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Diagnosed metabolic/pulmonary/musculoskeletal illness
• Diagnosed cardiovascular disease or hypertension
• Use of medications that may impact protein metabolism or are anti-inflammatory
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Allergy to pomegranate or amino acids
• Injuries that would impact ability to complete study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Follicular; Follicular phase assessment of muscle protein synthesis.	Other: Phase of the menstrual cycle; Follicular or luteal phase
Experimental: Luteal; Luteal phase assessment of muscle protein synthesis	Other: Phase of the menstrual cycle; Follicular or luteal phase

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle protein synthesis	The rate of synthesis of new muscle protein	7 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sex hormone concentrations	Serum oestrogen and progesterone	5 minutes
Plasma amino acid kinetics	The appearance of amino acids in the circulation.	7 hours
Serum insulin concentrations	Basal and postprandial concentrations of serum insulin	7 hours
Energy expenditure	Basal metabolic rate	20 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Exeter
• Collaborators: Pvolve
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Francis Stephens, University of Exeter

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 8, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 28, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): September 28, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 15, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 4539513

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