Protein Malnutrition, Sarcopenia, Skeletal Muscle Atrophy
Conditions
Keywords
Muscle protein synthesis
Brief summary
Background Protein intake is important for skeletal muscle mass maintenance with aging and the ingestion of specifically-timed protein supplements could increase overall protein intake and thereby contribute to skeletal muscle mass maintenance. Recently, more attention has been given to the ingestion of plant-based protein blends as a more sustainable high-quality alternative to milk protein, as a means to increase muscle protein build-up and, as such, support muscle maintenance, especially when consuming suboptimal amounts of protein in the regular diet. Objective To assess the benefit of daily protein supplementation with either a plant-based protein blend or a milk protein on top of a standard diet to stimulate integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older individuals with and without exercise. Hypotheses It is hypothesized that both the plant protein blend and the milk protein supplement will result in greater muscle protein build-up when compared with a standard diet control condition. It is also hypothesized that exercise will result in greater muscle protein build-up when compared to the resting leg in all conditions, with similar effects of the protein supplements vs the control diet as in the non-exercised leg. This study will show the potential benefit of protein supplementation with alternative protein sources to support skeletal muscle maintenance in older individuals.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALResistance exercise
4 single-leg exercise sessions
BEHAVIORALStandardized diet
Fully standardized provided energy-balanced diet providing recommended daily allowance for protein.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlant protein supplement
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTMaltodextrin supplement
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTMilk protein supplement
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
Sponsors
Cargill
Maastricht University Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Protein supplements are packed the same and look and taste similar.
Intervention model description
Randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female sex * Aged between 60 and 80 y inclusive * BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2
Exclusion criteria
* Following a self-reported vegetarian and vegan diet the 6 months prior to the study. * Intolerant to milk products * Corn allergy * Pea allergy * Participating currently or in the 3 months prior to the study in a structured (progressive) exercise program. * Smoking regularly (i.e. \>5 cigarettes/week) * History of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, neurological, psychiatric, dermatologic, musculoskeletal, metabolic, endocrine, haematological, immunologic disorders, allergy, major surgery and/or laboratory assessments which might limit participation in or completion of the study protocol, interfere with the execution of the experiment, or potential influence the study outcomes (to be decided by the principal investigator and responsible physician) * Diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU) * Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure above 160/100 mmHg) * Donated blood 3 months prior to test day * Use of any medications that interferes with study participation and/or outcomes (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, gastric acid suppressing medication) as assessed by the responsible medical doctor. * Use of DOAC, vitamin-K-antagonist, or multiple anticoagulants * Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in the non-exercised leg. | 10 days | Calculated by the changein deuterium labelled alanine in skeletal muscle protein |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary protein intake | 10 days | Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet |
| Dietary fat intake | 10 days | Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet |
| Dietary carbohydrate intake | 10 days | Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet |
| Step count | 10 days | Assessed using a accelerometer |
| Muscle Crosssectional are | 10 days | Assessed using Ultrasound |
| Integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in the exercised leg. | 10 days | Calculated by the change in deuterium labelled alanine in skeletal muscle protein |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body mass (kg) | At baseline | Assessed using scale |
| Height (m) | At baseline | Assessed using stadiometer |
| Body fat % | At baseline | Assessed using Dexa scan |
| Lean body mass (kg) | At baseline | Assessed using Dexa scan |
| Appendicular lean mass (kg) | At baseline | Assessed using Dexa scan |
| Sex | At baseline | Biological sex checked using interview |
| Systolic and diastolic blood pressure | At baseline | Automated measurement |
| Age (year) | At baseline | Interview question |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed