Co-ingestion of carbohydrate and whey protein isolates enhance PGC-1α mRNA expression: a randomised, single blind, cross over study

• Main Authors: Hill Karen M (Author), Stathis Christos G (Author), Grinfeld Esther (Author), Hayes Alan (Author), McAinch Andrew J (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2013-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-8; 1550-2783
• Keywords: Muscle protein synthesis; Protein supplementation; Endurance exercise adaptations; Mitochondrial biogenesis; Nutrition. Foods and food supply; TX341-641; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245
• Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Vol 10, Iss 1, p 8 (2013)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whey protein isolates (WPI) supplementation is known to improve resistance training adaptations. However, limited information is available on the effects of WPI plus carbohydrate (CHO) supplementation on endurance training adaptations.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Six endurance trained male cyclists and triathletes (age 29 ± 4 years, weight 74 ± 2 kg, VO_{2 max} 63 ± 3 ml oxygen^. kg^-1. Min^-1, height 183 ± 5 cm; mean ± SEM) were randomly assigned to one of two dietary interventions in a single blind cross over design; CHO or CHO + WPI. Each dietary intervention was followed for 16 days which included the last 2 days having increased CHO content, representing a CHO loading phase. The dietary interventions were iso-caloric and carbohydrate content matched. On completion of the dietary intervention, participants performed an exercise bout, consisting of cycling for 60 min at 70% VO_{2 max,} followed by time trial to exhaustion at 90% VO_{2 max} and recovered in the laboratory for 6 hours. Blood samples and muscle biopsies were taken at various time points at rest and through the exercise trial and recovery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to CHO, CHO + WPI increased plasma insulin during recovery at 180 mins (P < 0.05) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) mRNA expression at the end of 6 hours of recovery (P < 0.05). Muscle glycogen did not differ between the two trials.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study showed co-ingestion of CHO + WPI may have beneficial effects on recovery and adaptations to endurance exercise via, increased insulin response and up regulation of PGC-1α mRNA expression.</p>