Amino Acids, Essential, Exercise, Metabolism
Conditions
Keywords
Home-based resistance exercise, Protein synthesis, Net protein balance, Protein breakdown, Essential amino acids, Branched-chain amino acids, Protein metabolism
Brief summary
An adequate quantity of lean body mass is vital for optimal health and performance, and is accrued when net protein balance (NPB) is positive. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and when consumed following resistance exercise, significantly improve NPB. However, no study has investigated how a supplement of all of the essential amino acids (EAA) affects NPB following resistance exercise in a free-living, home-based setting, particularly when compared to a supplement of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a novel EAA supplement on anabolism (e.g., NPB) as compared to BCAA and placebo supplements following home-based resistance exercise.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNovel essential amino acid supplementation
This intervention will determine the impact of EAA+ on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTBranched-chain amino acid supplementation (BCAA)
This intervention will determine the impact of the BCAA supplement (to be compared to EAA+) on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTIsocaloric carbohydrate supplementation
This intervention will determine the impact of an isocaloric carbohydrate placebo supplement (to be compared to EAA+) on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.
Sponsors
Iovate Health Sciences International Inc
University of Toronto
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
All investigators involved with the study, as well as participants, will be blinded to treatment conditions (double-blind design) until data analysis is completed.
Intervention model description
In a randomized, counterbalanced order, participants will receive all treatments arms (essential amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, and placebo).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aged 18-35 years * Recreationally active; currently performing structured exercise (e.g., running, weight lifting, team-sport activity) at least 2 days per week
Exclusion criteria
* Body Mass Index: \>29.9kg/m\^2 * Inability to perform physical activity as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Inability to adhere to protocol guidelines (e.g., alcohol, habitual diet) * Regular tobacco use * Illicit drug use (e.g., growth hormone, testosterone) * Diagnosed medical condition under the care of a physician * Inability to abstain from supplements (e.g., protein, creatine, HMB, BCAA, phosphatidic acid) at least three weeks before and during trials * Individuals on any medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescription-strength acne medications)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-body net leucine balance (umol/kg) | 5 hours/trial (four trials total) | Used as a proxy of whole-body protein balance, and estimated by using \[13C\]leucine ingestion and breath/urine sample collection |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Urinary 3-methylhistidine (3-methylhistidine:creatinine ratio) | 5 hours/trial (four trials total) | Used as a marker of muscle protein breakdown by measuring the 3-methylhistidine:creatinine ratio in the urine |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed