The Muscle Protein Synthetic Response to the Ingestion of a Plant-Based Protein Blend Is Not Different From Milk Protein in Healthy, Young Males

Abstract

\n \n \n It has been reported that plant-based proteins are not as effective as animal-based proteins in their capacity to stimulate muscle protein synthesis rates. This has been attributed to the lower essential amino acid content and the selective deficiency in specific amino acids. It has been hypothesized that a blend of different plant-based proteins may complement each other and, as such, compensate for such deficits. This study compares post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates following the ingestion of 30\xa0g milk protein with the ingestion of a 30\xa0g blend of wheat, corn, and pea protein in vivo, in healthy young males.\n \n \n \n In a randomized, double blind, parallel-group design, 24 healthy young males (24\xa0±\xa04\xa0y) received a primed continuous infusion of L-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine and ingested 30\xa0g milk protein (MILK), or a 30\xa0g protein blend with 15\xa0g wheat, 7.5\xa0g corn, and 7.5\xa0g pea protein (PLANT) in beverage form (n\xa0=\xa012 per group). Both interventional drinks were matched for leucine content. Blood and muscle biopsies were collected for 5\xa0h following protein ingestion to assess post-prandial plasma amino acid profiles and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates. Data are expressed as mean\xa0±\xa0SD.\n \n \n \n MILK increased plasma essential amino acid concentrations ∼2 fold more than PLANT over the 5\xa0h post-prandial period (incremental area under curve (iAUC): 151\xa0±\xa031\xa0vs\xa079\xa0±\xa012 mmol∙5 h∙L−1 respectively; \xa0P\xa0<\xa00.001). Similarly, the leucine iAUC was ∼16% greater for MILK vs PLANT (36\xa0±\xa07\xa0vs\xa031\xa0±\xa04 mmol∙5 h∙L−1 respectively; P\xa0<\xa00.05). Ingestion of both MILK and PLANT increased myofibrillar protein synthesis rates when compared to basal post-absorptive values (P\xa0<\xa00.001), with no significant differences between treatments (0.053\xa0±\xa00.013\xa0vs\xa00.064\xa0±\xa00.016%∙h−1, \xa0respectively; P\xa0>\xa00.05).\n \n \n \n Ingestion of 30\xa0g of a wheat, corn, and pea protein blend increases muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy, young males. The post-prandial muscle protein synthetic response to the ingestion of 30\xa0g of a wheat, corn and pea protein blend does not differ from the ingestion of an equivalent amount of milk protein in healthy, young males.\n \n \n \n TiFN\n