Anabolic response to essential amino acid plus whey protein composition is greater than whey protein alone in young healthy adults

• Main Authors: Sanghee Park (Author), David D. Church (Author), Gohar Azhar (Author), Scott E. Schutzler (Author), Arny A. Ferrando (Author), Robert R. Wolfe (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2020-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1550-2783; 10.1186/s12970-020-0340-5
• Keywords: essential amino acids; whey protein; whole body anabolic response; fractional synthetic rate; leucine; stable isotope; Nutrition. Foods and food supply; TX341-641; Sports medicine; RC1200-1245
• Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Vol 17, Iss 1 (2020)

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.