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Abstract
Background
We have determined the acute response of protein kinetics to one or two servings (6.3 g and 12.6 g) of a proprietary composition containing free-form essential amino acids (EAA) (3.2 g EAA per serving) and whey protein (2.4 g per serving), as well as the response to consumption of a popular whey-based protein supplement (Gatorade Recover) (17 g; 12.6 g protein).
Methods
Whole-body rates of protein synthesis, breakdown and net balance (taken to be the anabolic response) were determined using primed-constant infusions of 2H5-phenylalnine and 2H2-tyrosine. Muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR) was also determined with the 2H5-phenylalanine tracer.
Results
Plasma EAA levels increased following consumption of all beverages, with the greatest response in the high-dose EAA/protein composition. Similarly, the increase in net balance between whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown was greatest following consumption of the high-dose EAA/protein composition, while the low-dose EAA/protein composition and Gatorade Recover induced similar increases in net balance. When the net balance response was normalized for the total amount of product given, the high- and low-dose EAA/protein beverages were approximately 6- and 3-fold more anabolic than the Gatorade Recover, respectively. The greater anabolic response to the EAA/protein composition was due to greater increases in whole-body protein synthesis with both doses, and a markedly greater suppression of whole-body protein breakdown in the high-dose group. Muscle protein FSR after beverage consumption reflected changes in whole-body protein synthesis, with the larger EAA/protein dose significantly increasing FSR.
Conclusion
We conclude that a composition of a balanced EAA formulation combined with whey protein is highly anabolic as compared to a whey protein-based recovery product, and that the response is dose-dependent.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03502941. This trial was registered on April 19, 2018.
Acknowledgements
The research subjects for their participation in the study are greatly appreciated. We thank the research staff/associates for their assistance in conducting the tracer infusion protocols: Cosby J. Lasley for coordinating study subjects; Rick Williams for gas- and liquid-chromatography mass-spectrometry analysis, and we thank Deb Will Viane for her support and administrative assistance.
Authors’ contributions
All authors were involved in the study. AAF and RRW conceived and designed the study; SP, DDC, SES performed experiments; GA provided medical supervision; SP performed data and statistical analysis; SP, AAF, RRW were involved in interpretation of the results and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Authors’ information
Not applicable.
Funding
This study was funded by Adesso LLC, Delaware (AA Ferrando, Principal Investigator).
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institutional Review Board approved this study prior to study initiation (IRB# 217658). Written informed consent was given by all subjects prior to their participation.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
RR Wolfe is the inventor of the pending patent application entitled “Composition for stimulating muscle growth, repair and maintenance”. Remaining authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Supplementary information
Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-0340-5.
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