Effect of Yeast protein compared to whey protein and a placebo on muscle mass and performance in an Adult Population – A double blind, randomised controlled trial.

This is a double blind, randomised, clinical study with 3 groups (2 active ingredient groups and 1 inactive placebo group). AnPro ® is a novel brand of yeast protein extracted from the nutritional yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Once enrolled in the study, participants will attend the clinic and be randomly allocated to either a placebo group or one of two active intervention groups and undertake baseline testing. Baseline testing will include a full body scan for muscle mass (dual energy x ray absorptiometry – DXA via referral), muscle strength and endurance test, blood test for safety markers, anthropometric measures (waist and hips circumferences, height and weight), a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hr diet recall. At the completion of baseline testing, trial product will be provided according to participant randomisation and participants will be asked to start consuming the product taken as a total 40mg dosage in powder form to be made into a drink (20mg in the morning and 20mg at lunch) daily for the duration of the study (8 weeks). The whey protein in powder form to be made into a drink (taken as a total 40mg dosage (20mg in the morning and 20mg at lunch) daily for the duration of the study (8 weeks) using a commercially available whey protein. Following the start of trial product, participants will be contacted fortnightly (e.g text message and/or email) to confirm they are still enrolled, still taking product as prescribed and if they have experienced any adverse events and/or study specific symptoms. Participants will be asked to undertake an 8-week training program that can be undertaken anywhere using bodyweight for intensity. Each session is administered by an accredited exercise physiologist. The training program will consist of resistance training of major muscle groups both in the upper and lower body and sessions will be approximately 30 minutes long. All exercises within the program are body weight bearing exercises such as push ups, squats, lunges, burpees, sit-ups and dips. Participants will complete 3 training sessions per week during weeks 1-3 and 5-7 and 2 sessions during assessment weeks 4 and 8. The sessions will be emailed out to participants using a pre-recorded instructional video which they need to play on an electronic device (e.g. smartphone or laptop). Compliance to the exercise program will be monitored throughout the study using a phone based exercise app (e.g. Strava or PhysiTrack) to track each session. During week 4, participants will return to the clinic to repeat the strength and endurance testing and anthropometric measures and return at week 8 to repeat all baseline measurements. Adherence will be monitored by return and logging of any remaining study product at completion of intervention period.