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Protein in Feeding Strategies to Accelerate Muscle Recovery From ACL Reconstruction

The Role of Beef in Optimal Protein and Feeding Strategies to Accelerate Muscle Mass and Functional Recovery From Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Repair

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03492021
Enrollment
6
Registered
2018-04-09
Start date
2018-02-01
Completion date
2022-02-01
Last updated
2022-09-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rehabilitative Nutrition for Muscle Recovery From ACL Reconstruction

Keywords

rehabilitative nutrition, protein, beef, ACL reconstruction, protein synthesis, proteolysis, muscle mass, muscle strength

Brief summary

Musculoskeletal injury, particularly injuries requiring surgical repair, induce significant muscle atrophy, resulting in diminished physical function. The protein turnover-associated (diminished protein synthesis, elevated protein breakdown, negative net muscle protein balance) etiology of injury and surgical-induced atrophy are, in part, similar to those observed with muscle wasting induced by hyper-catabolic and inflammatory conditions and prolonged periods of skeletal muscle disuse (e.g., cachexia and joint immobilization). Combining dietary strategies to optimize the anabolic properties of beef as a high quality protein source that provides essential amino acids prior to surgery and throughout post-surgery rehabilitation may attenuate muscle atrophy and accelerate the restoration of muscle function. This project will examine the efficacy of habitual consumption of a beef-based higher protein meal pattern and post-physical rehabilitation beef protein supplementation throughout post-surgical rehabilitation intervention on skeletal muscle function in response to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair in healthy, physically active adults. Stable isotope methodologies, proteomic analysis of muscle protein synthesis, and molecular assessments of skeletal muscle atrophy and remodeling will be assessed to evaluate the effects of increased protein intake, including consumption of a high quality beef-based protein supplement following patient physical therapy sessions on: 1. Skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic rates during and in recovery from surgery; 2. Inflammatory, proteolytic, and anabolic intramuscular signaling during surgery and their association with skeletal muscle protein synthesis and muscle function; 3. Muscle size and functional recovery; 4. Duration to return to routine exercise, sport, or physical activity.

Interventions

OTHERDiet Intervention_AP-CPT

Adequate Protein\_Carbohydrate Post Therapy (AP-CPT) where protein intake will be 1 g/kg/d for the duration of the study .

OTHERDiet Intervention_PP-PPT

Optimal Protein\_Protein Post Therapy (OP-PPT) with protein intake set at 2.0 g/kg/day for the duration of the study

Sponsors

Orthopedic Associates of Hartford
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
CollaboratorFED
University of California, Berkeley
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Connecticut
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 18 to 50 years of age * identified as appropriate for study recruitment by their respective orthopedic surgeon * undergoing their first anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair * undergo ACL reconstruction under general anesthesia * body mass indexes (BMIs) within normal to overweight ranges

Exclusion criteria

* reporting metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders (i.e. lactose intolerance) * use of nutritional/herbal/sports supplements including anabolic steroids, and tobacco products will be excluded from the study * BMIs above 29.9

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic ratesFollowing 16 weeks of physical rehabilitation post surgery for subjects in both diet intervention groups.Using stable isotope techniques skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic rates will be determined

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026