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In Vivo and in Vitro Anabolic Potential of Essential Amino Acids Following Resistance Exercise

In Vivo and in Vitro Anabolic Potential of Essential Amino Acids Following Resistance Exercise

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05754125
Acronym
DiEx
Enrollment
12
Registered
2023-03-03
Start date
2023-01-21
Completion date
2024-01-30
Last updated
2023-11-09

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

Conditions

Interventional

Keywords

Di-leucine, Branched chain amino acids, Collagen, Amino acids, anabolism, catabolism

Brief summary

This study seeks to investigate the anabolic potential of a dileucine-enriched essential amino acid (EAA) formulation compared with a branched chain amino acid (BCAA) alternative and a collagen beverage on muscle protein anabolism and catabolism following a bout of resistance exercise training. To do this, investigators will employ a novel 'breath test' method developed in our laboratory as well as blood and urine sampling. The results of this study will allow us to better understand the anabolic potential of dileucine which could have implications for people engaging in regular resistance training (such as athletes) as well as people that need to preserve muscle mass (older people who are susceptible to anabolic resistance and sarcopenia, or muscle wasting).

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTDi-Leucine Supplement

Participants will consume a amino acid supplement containing Di-Leucine following resistance exercise and their whole body anabolism will be determined over the subsequent 6 hours

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTBCAA Supplement

Participants will consume a amino acid supplement containing branched chain amino acids (BCAA) following resistance exercise and their whole body anabolism will be determined over the subsequent hours

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCollagen Supplement

Participants will consume a amino acid supplement containing Collagen protein following resistance exercise and their whole body anabolism will be determined over the subsequent hours

Sponsors

University of Toronto
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Neither participants, investigators, or data analysts will be aware of the supplement assignment (labelled A-C) until data analysis for the primary outcome is complete.

Intervention model description

Cross over study design; Block randomized.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Trained individuals currently performing structured exercise (e.g., running, weightlifting, team-sport activity) at least 2 days per week for the previous 3 months

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to perform physical activity as determined by the PAR-Q * Inability to adhere to protocol guidelines (e.g., alcohol, habitual diet) * Regular tobacco use * Illicit drug use (e.g., growth hormone, testosterone, etc.) * Diagnosed medical condition under the care of a physician (e.g. type 2 diabetes) * Inability to abstain from supplements (e.g. protein, creatine, HMB, BCAA, phosphatidic acid, etc.) at least three weeks before the trial * Individuals on any medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescription-strength acne medications) * Participants that are amenorrheic (females only) * On medications that may interfere with protein metabolism (e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone therapy) * Regular tobacco use (e.g. daily use of oral or inhaled tobacco) * Illicit drug use (e.g. growth hormone, testosterone, etc.) * Inability to comply with the study protocol as judged by the investigators

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Whole-Body Protein Synthesis6 hoursInvestigators will measure the enrichment of \[13CO2\] in the breath by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in atom percent excess (APE). The measurement of carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and stable isotope tracer enrichment in the breath allows for the assessment of the rate at which amino acids are used for energy (i.e., oxidized), rather than for protein synthesis (i.e., retained in the body) by calculating the fraction of expired CO2 that contains 13C. Leucine retention (umol/kg) will then be calculated from the difference between the known amount of leucine provided (ingested) and leucine oxidation (as determined from 13CO2 breath enrichment).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Urinary Measures (Muscle Protein Breakdown)6 hoursInvestigators will measure urinary 3-methylhistidine (3MH) as an indirect marker of muscle protein breakdown over the course of the trial (6 hours) through pooled urine collection vs baseline urine.
Murine Cell-Based Experiments (ex-vivo experiments) -hypertrophy60 minutesInvestigators will use human serum obtained from fasted and fed timepoints (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes following beverage consumption) to condition cell culture media (20% volume). To determine the effects of using fasted and/or fed 'human-conditioned' culture media on cell growth, myotube diameter (hypertrophy) will be measured via microscopy following short term (4 hours) and long-term (24 hour) incubation in the human conditioned culture media.
Murine Cell-Based Experiments (ex-vivo experiments) - Protein Synthesis60 minutesInvestigators will use human serum obtained from fasted and fed timepoints (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes following beverage consumption) to condition cell culture media (20% volume). To determine the effects of using fasted and/or fed 'human-conditioned' culture media on cell protein synthesis, puromycin incorporation (measure of protein synthesis) will be measured via western blot.
Murine Cell-Based Experiments (ex-vivo experiments) - mTORC1 Signalling60 minutesInvestigators will use human serum obtained from fasted and fed timepoints (15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes following beverage consumption) to condition cell culture media (20% volume). To determine the effects of using fasted and/or fed 'human-conditioned' culture media on cell anabolic signalling mTORC1 signalling will be measured via western blot.

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

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