Post-prandial protein handling following ingestion of different amounts of protein during post-exercise recovery in older males
Andrew M. Holwerda FASEB 2017
Purpose The age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass is, at least partly, attributed to anabolic resistance to food intake. Resistance-type exercise sensitizes skeletal muscle tissue to the anabolic properties of amino acids. Data are warranted to define the amount of ingested protein needed to maximize post-exercise myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in older individuals.
Methods In a parallel group design, forty-eight healthy older men (66±1 y) were randomly assigned to ingest 0, 15, 30 or 45 g milk protein concentrate (MPC80) after performing a single bout of resistance type exercise. Post-prandial protein digestion and absorption kinetics, whole body protein metabolism and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates were assessed using primed, continuous infusions of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and L-[ring-2H2]-tyrosine combined with the ingestion of intrinsically L-[1-13C]-phenylalanine labeled milk protein.
Results A total of 76±2% (11.4±0.3 g), 63±3% (18.9±0.9 g) and 60±3% (26.8±1.2 g) of the protein derived amino acids were released in the circulation during 6 h after ingesting 15, 30 or 45 g protein (P<0.01). Ingestion of 15, 30 and 45 g protein resulted in higher whole-body protein synthesis when compared to the control treatment (0.61±0.01, 0.64±0.01 and 0.67±0.02 vs 0.53±0.02 μmol·Phe·kg−1·min−1, respectively; P<0.01). Whole body protein breakdown rates were lower after ingestion of 45 g when compared with 0 g (0.45±0.01 vs 0.52±0.02 μmol·Phe·kg−1·min−1; P<0.01). Whole-body protein oxidation rates were increased after ingestion of 45 g when compared with 15 g and 0 g protein (0.061±0.003 vs 0.050±0.003 and 0.046±0.002 μmol Phe·kg−1·min−1, respectively; P<0.05). Whole-body protein balance increased in a dose-dependent manner after the ingestion of 0, 15, 30 and 45 g protein (0.02±0.0, 0.11±0.0, 0.16±0.01, and 0.22±0.01 μmol·Phe·kg−1·min−1, respectively; P<0.001). Muscle tissue analyses are currently being performed.
Conclusions Dietary protein ingested after resistance-type exercise is rapidly digested and absorbed, with 60–75% of the protein derived amino acids being released into the circulation within 6 h after ingestion. Whole body protein synthesis rates and net protein balance are increased in a dose-dependent manner following the ingestion of 15, 30 and 45 g milk protein in older males.