Effects of Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids on Post-Exercise Muscle Collagen Synthesis in Young Men

University of British Columbia17 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to assess which amino acids are affecting acute muscle collagen synthesis in response to supplementation and exercise.

This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled, parallel design study, with 3 treatment groups (placebo, collagen peptide, and essential amino acid). The study will involve 3 visits: a baseline testing/familiarization session, and 2 exercise trials which will include muscle biopsies, blood draws, and the infusion of a tracer isotope in order to measure muscle protein synthesis.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Skeletal Muscle Extracellular Matrix Amino Acids Metabolism Exercise Dietary Supplements

Interventions

Essential Amino AcidDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Immediately following the exercise intervention participants will consume their assigned essential amino acid supplement

Collagen PeptideDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Immediately following the exercise intervention participants will consume their assigned collagen peptide supplement

Maltodextrin PlaceboDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Immediately following the exercise intervention participants will consume their assigned maltodextrin supplement

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 35 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Can fluently read and write in English * Male * 18 - 35 years Exclusion Criteria: * Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or current pharmaceutical therapy * Medical conditions impacting ability to undertake strenuous physical activity * Lower body resistance training in the previous 6 months * BMI \> 30 * Currently smoking with cigarettes * Allergy to any study supplements * Currently taking any protein, amino acid, or collagen supplement * Participate in greater than 2 hours of weekly vigorous exercise

Locations (1)

Chan Gunn Pavilion

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis

Fraction of the myofibrillar enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 0 - 4 hours post-exercise

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis

Fraction of the myofibrillar enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 0 - 2 hours post-exercise

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) of Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis

Fraction of the myofibrillar enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 2 - 4 hours post-exercise

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) Muscle Collagen Synthesis

Fraction of the intramuscular collagen enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 0 - 4 hours post-exercise

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) Muscle Collagen Synthesis

Fraction of the intramuscular collagen enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 0 - 2 hours post-exercise

Fractional synthetic rate (change over time) Muscle Collagen Synthesis

Fraction of the intramuscular collagen enriched protein from muscle biopsy per unit time.

Time frame: 2 - 4 hours post-exercise

Pro-Collagen Type I N-Propeptide (PINP)

Osteoblastic marker of bone collagen synthesis

Time frame: 1 hour prior to exercise

Pro-Collagen Type I N-Propeptide (PINP)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Secondary Outcomes

Plasma Amino Acids Response to Supplementation

Amino acid plasma concentrations

Time frame: 0 - 4 hours post-exercise

Muscle mechanistic target of rapamycin Pathway Activation

Measuring the fold change in enzymes associated with the anabolic signalling of the mTOR pathway (e.g. phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3k), protein kinase B (Akt))

Time frame: 0 - 4 hours post-exercise

PCR Gene Expression of Muscle Collagen Genes (Types I, III, IV)

Measuring the fold change when the collagen genes of interest become detectable in the PCR analysis

Time frame: 0 - 4 hours post-exercise

Pro-Collagen Type III N-Propeptide (PIIINP)

Marker of collagen synthesis

Time frame: 1 hour prior to exercise

Pro-Collagen Type III N-Propeptide (PIIINP)

Marker of collagen synthesis

Time frame: 4 hours post exercise