Vegan Whey Protein for Muscle Anabolism and Post-exercise Recovery

Summary

This study will be a randomised, double-blind trial where participants will be randomly assigned to consume either a i) vegan whey protein; ii) a whey protein; or iii) a non-protein carbohydrate control supplement for 3 days following strenuous eccentric knee extension exercise. For the duration of the study period, participants will orally consume deuterated water stable isotope tracer (D2O). This, together with repeated blood sampling and muscle biopsies will allow for the calculation of free-living myofibrillar protein synthesis rates under conditions of rest and over 24-, 48- and 72-hours post-exercise recovery.

Conditions

• Muscle Soreness

Interventions

OTHER

Stable isotope tracer consumption

Daily consumption of oral deuterium oxide (0.3 ml per kg of lean body mass) to equilibrate in body water and become slowly incorporated into muscle protein, enabling measurement of muscle protein synthesis rates

RADIATION

DXA scan

Whole body DXA scan to assess lean body mass for prescription of deuterium oxide tracer

BEHAVIORAL

Controlled diet

Participant will be asked to consume a provided 6-day diet package that will be prepared by the research team. This package will include 3 meals per day plus snacks

OTHER

Saliva sample

Obtained from participants by asking them to spit into a tube each day during the study, for 11 days in total.

OTHER

Blood sample

Resting venous blood sample from a forearm vein on 6 separate occasions

PROCEDURE

Muscle biopsy

A highly experienced researcher will sample a small section of muscle (\~200 mg) from the vastus lateralis muscle under local anaesthetic (5 ml, 1% Lidocaine)

BEHAVIORAL

Resistance exercise

participants will complete 8 sets of 10 repetitions of unilateral eccentric knee extensions on an isokinetic dynamometer.

OTHER

Isometric strength test

Bilateral isometric strength will be measured using a well-established protocol on an isokinetic dynamometer.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Supplement

Consumption of 3 supplements a day for 3 days following resistance exercise. All supplements are commercially available.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Birmingham

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-09-01

Primary Completion

2024-11-22

Completion

2024-11-22

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations