Influence of protein source (cricket, pea, whey) on amino acid bioavailability and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway after resistance exercise in healthy young males

TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of protein source (cricket, pea, whey) on amino acid bioavailability and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway after resistance exercise in healthy young males

AU - Lanng, Sofie Kaas

AU - Oxfeldt, Mikkel

AU - Pedersen, Simon Stjernholm

AU - Johansen, Frank Ted

AU - Risikesan, Jeyanthini

AU - Lejel, Trine

AU - Bertram, Hanne Christine

AU - Hansen, Mette

N1 - © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

PY - 2023/4

Y1 - 2023/4

N2 - PURPOSE: New dietary proteins are currently introduced to replace traditional animal protein sources. However, not much is known about their bioaccessibility and ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis compared to the traditional protein sources. We aimed to compare effects of ingesting a protein bolus (0.25 g/kg fat free mass) of either cricket (insect), pea, or whey protein on circulating amino acid levels and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle at rest and after exercise.METHODS: In a randomized parallel controlled trial, young males (n = 50) performed a one-legged resistance exercise followed by ingestion of one of the three protein sources. Blood samples were collected before and in the following 4 h after exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained at baseline and after 3 h from the non-exercised and exercised leg.RESULTS: Analysis of blood serum showed a significantly higher concentration of amino acids after ingestion of whey protein compared to cricket and pea protein. No difference between protein sources in activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway was observed either at rest or after exercise.CONCLUSION: Amino acid blood concentration after protein ingestion was higher for whey than pea and cricket protein, whereas activation of mTORC1 signaling pathway at rest and after exercise did not differ between protein sources.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinicaltrials.org ID NCT04633694.

AB - PURPOSE: New dietary proteins are currently introduced to replace traditional animal protein sources. However, not much is known about their bioaccessibility and ability to stimulate muscle protein synthesis compared to the traditional protein sources. We aimed to compare effects of ingesting a protein bolus (0.25 g/kg fat free mass) of either cricket (insect), pea, or whey protein on circulating amino acid levels and activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the skeletal muscle at rest and after exercise.METHODS: In a randomized parallel controlled trial, young males (n = 50) performed a one-legged resistance exercise followed by ingestion of one of the three protein sources. Blood samples were collected before and in the following 4 h after exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained at baseline and after 3 h from the non-exercised and exercised leg.RESULTS: Analysis of blood serum showed a significantly higher concentration of amino acids after ingestion of whey protein compared to cricket and pea protein. No difference between protein sources in activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway was observed either at rest or after exercise.CONCLUSION: Amino acid blood concentration after protein ingestion was higher for whey than pea and cricket protein, whereas activation of mTORC1 signaling pathway at rest and after exercise did not differ between protein sources.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinicaltrials.org ID NCT04633694.

KW - Alternative protein sources

KW - Insect protein supplementation

KW - Muscle protein synthesis

KW - NMR metabolomics

KW - Protein quality

KW - Peas

KW - Signal Transduction

KW - Humans

KW - Biological Availability

KW - Male

KW - Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism

KW - Amino Acids

KW - Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1

KW - Resistance Training

KW - Whey Proteins/metabolism

KW - Animals

KW - Whey/metabolism

KW - Gryllidae/metabolism

U2 - 10.1007/s00394-022-03071-y

DO - 10.1007/s00394-022-03071-y

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36536114

SN - 1436-6207

VL - 62

SP - 1295

EP - 1308

JO - European Journal of Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Nutrition

IS - 3

ER -