Impact of Amino Acids to Enhance Anabolism After Home-based Exercise

University of Toronto12 enrolled

Overview

An adequate quantity of lean body mass is vital for optimal health and performance, and is accrued when net protein balance (NPB) is positive. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and when consumed following resistance exercise, significantly improve NPB. However, no study has investigated how a supplement of all of the essential amino acids (EAA) affects NPB following resistance exercise in a free-living, home-based setting, particularly when compared to a supplement of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a novel EAA supplement on anabolism (e.g., NPB) as compared to BCAA and placebo supplements following home-based resistance exercise.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Amino Acids, Essential Metabolism Exercise

Interventions

Novel essential amino acid supplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

This intervention will determine the impact of EAA+ on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.

Branched-chain amino acid supplementation (BCAA)DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

This intervention will determine the impact of the BCAA supplement (to be compared to EAA+) on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.

Isocaloric carbohydrate supplementationDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

This intervention will determine the impact of an isocaloric carbohydrate placebo supplement (to be compared to EAA+) on markers of whole-body net protein balance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown following home-based resistance exercise in a free-living setting.

Eligibility

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

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18-35 years * Recreationally active; currently performing structured exercise (e.g., running, weight lifting, team-sport activity) at least 2 days per week Exclusion Criteria: * Body Mass Index: \>29.9kg/m\^2 * Inability to perform physical activity as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire * Inability to adhere to protocol guidelines (e.g., alcohol, habitual diet) * Regular tobacco use * Illicit drug use (e.g., growth hormone, testosterone) * Diagnosed medical condition under the care of a physician * Inability to abstain from supplements (e.g., protein, creatine, HMB, BCAA, phosphatidic acid) at least three weeks before and during trials * Individuals on any medications known to affect protein metabolism (e.g., corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescription-strength acne medications)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Whole-body net leucine balance (umol/kg)

Used as a proxy of whole-body protein balance, and estimated by using \[13C\]leucine ingestion and breath/urine sample collection

Time frame: 5 hours/trial (four trials total)

Secondary Outcomes

Urinary 3-methylhistidine (3-methylhistidine:creatinine ratio)

Used as a marker of muscle protein breakdown by measuring the 3-methylhistidine:creatinine ratio in the urine