This study will assess the effect of daily post-exercise vegan (pea) and animal (whey) protein ingestion compared to placebo over 7 days of recovery from strenuous exercise. Muscle strength and soreness will be measured daily, and mechanisms underpinning recovery will be investigated in muscle biopsies taken 3, 24 and 48 hours after exercise.
Strenuous exercise can cause muscle soreness and reduced muscle strength. It is widely acknowledged that nutritional supplements derived from animal protein sources, including whey from milk, aids recovery when taken immediately after strenuous exercise. However, the effect of vegan protein supplements are less understood, and how they affect recovery of strength and soreness is not known. This is an important area of research due to the increasing demand for plant-based protein.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
30
Animal protein supplement consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.
Vegan protein supplement consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.
Placebo consumed post exercise to aid recovery of muscle function following strenuous exercise.
University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Change in isokinetic work (W30) performed before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.
The recovery of skeletal muscle isokinetic force production following eccentric exercise using an isokinetic dynamometer
Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days
Perceived quadriceps muscle soreness
Soreness will be assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle soreness following eccentric exercise. This scale will represent a 100mm line with no pain and worst pain anchored at either end of the scale.
Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days
Muscle swelling
Determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle swelling following eccentric exercise assessed using MRI
Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 3 days
Rate of protein incorporation into the muscle
Determine whether the strenuous exercise and a protein supplement can upregulate protein synthesis following strenuous exercise assessed by muscle biopsies
Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 3 days
Plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.
Damage and inflammatory bio markers following strenuous exercise assessed by blood sample
Time frame: Once per 24 hour period for 7 days
Change in flow mediated dilation
Determine whether the protein polyphenol supplement can impact vascular function following eccentric exercise
Time frame: Once hourly post exercise for 3 hours
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