Anabolic response to essential amino acid plus whey protein composition is greater than whey protein alone in young healthy adults

Sanghee Park, David D Church, Gohar Azhar, Scott E Schutzler, Arny A Ferrando, Robert R Wolfe, Sanghee Park, David D Church, Gohar Azhar, Scott E Schutzler, Arny A Ferrando, Robert R Wolfe

Abstract

Background: We have determined the acute response of protein kinetics to one or two servings (6.3 g and 12.6 g) of a proprietary composition containing free-form essential amino acids (EAA) (3.2 g EAA per serving) and whey protein (2.4 g per serving), as well as the response to consumption of a popular whey-based protein supplement (Gatorade Recover) (17 g; 12.6 g protein).

Methods: Whole-body rates of protein synthesis, breakdown and net balance (taken to be the anabolic response) were determined using primed-constant infusions of 2H5-phenylalnine and 2H2-tyrosine. Muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR) was also determined with the 2H5-phenylalanine tracer.

Results: Plasma EAA levels increased following consumption of all beverages, with the greatest response in the high-dose EAA/protein composition. Similarly, the increase in net balance between whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown was greatest following consumption of the high-dose EAA/protein composition, while the low-dose EAA/protein composition and Gatorade Recover induced similar increases in net balance. When the net balance response was normalized for the total amount of product given, the high- and low-dose EAA/protein beverages were approximately 6- and 3-fold more anabolic than the Gatorade Recover, respectively. The greater anabolic response to the EAA/protein composition was due to greater increases in whole-body protein synthesis with both doses, and a markedly greater suppression of whole-body protein breakdown in the high-dose group. Muscle protein FSR after beverage consumption reflected changes in whole-body protein synthesis, with the larger EAA/protein dose significantly increasing FSR.

Conclusion: We conclude that a composition of a balanced EAA formulation combined with whey protein is highly anabolic as compared to a whey protein-based recovery product, and that the response is dose-dependent.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03502941. This trial was registered on April 19, 2018.

Keywords: Essential amino acids; Fractional synthetic rate; Leucine; Stable isotope; Whey protein; Whole body anabolic response.

Conflict of interest statement

RR Wolfe is the inventor of the pending patent application entitled “Composition for stimulating muscle growth, repair and maintenance”. Remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Tracer infusion protocol
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Total plasma essential amino acid (EAA) concentration (upper panel) and leucine concentration (lower panel) before and following consumption of one of two doses (6.3 g and 12.6 g) of the free EAA/protein composition or the whey protein product (17.9 g). Bar graphs on right represent the area under the curve for the response above baseline over the 4 h following consumption of each dose of free EAAs/protein and of whey protein. *Statistically different from High EAA, p < 0.05; #Statistically different between Low EAA and whey protein, p < 0.05
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Changes from baseline of whole-body net protein balance (NB), protein synthesis (PS) and protein breakdown (PB) following consumption one of two doses of the free EAAs/protein composition (6.3 g and 12.6 g) and the whey protein product (17.9 g). *Statistically different from High EAA, p < 0.01; #Statistically different between Low EAA and whey protein, p < 0.05
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Changes from baseline of whole-body net protein balance (NB), protein synthesis (PS) and protein breakdown (PB) following consumption one of two doses of the free EAAs/protein composition (6.3 g and 12.6 g) and the whey protein product (17 g). Values are normalized for the amount of product consumed. *Statistically different from High EAA, p < 0.01; #Statistically different between Low EAA and whey protein, p < 0.05
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) following consumption one of two doses of the free EAAs/protein composition (6.3 g and 12.6 g) and the whey protein product (17.9 g). *Statistically significant from fasted within treatment, p < 0.05

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