The Effect of Repeated Whole-body NMES Sessions With or Without Protein Intake on Muscle Protein Synthesis During 3 Days of Bed Rest in Healthy Young Volunteers

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effect of whole-body electrostimulation with protein intake on muscle protein synthesis, muscle mass and function during bed rest in healthy young adults (18-35 years). The main questions to answer are: * Does whole-body NMES followed by protein intake improve muscle protein synthesis rates during 3 days of bed rest? * Does repeated NMES sessions offer protective effects on muscle mass and function during extended periods of inactivity? Researchers will compare sham electrical electrostimulation, electrical stimulation and electrical stimulation + protein groups to see if whole-body electrostimulation combined with protein intake offers the greatest improvement in muscle protein metabolism and muscle preservation. Participants will: * Undergo 3 days of bed rest while receiving one of the following interventions: * Sham-NMES followed by standard nutrition (CON) * Whole-body NMES followed by standard nutrition(NMES) * Whole-body NMES followed by a bolus of 20g protein (NMES+PRO) * Receive heavy water (D2O) to assess body water turnover. * Undergo leg extension exercises to assess muscle function. * Have quadriceps muscle thickness measured via ultrasound. * Provide saliva samples for analysis. * Have calf circumference measured to monitor changes in muscle mass.

Patients admitted to the hospital often experience prolonged bed rest, which can lead to rapid muscle loss and weakness. In the intensive care unit (ICU), this condition, known as ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), affects up to 50% of patients and can lead to longer mechanical ventilation times, increased morbidity, and a reduced quality of life after hospital discharge. One of the key reasons for muscle loss during bed rest is an impaired response to dietary protein, which normally helps maintain muscle mass. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a method that uses small electrical currents to stimulate muscle contractions, potentially counteracting muscle loss during periods of inactivity. Previous research has shown that NMES applied to the quadriceps muscles can reduce muscle loss in sedated patients and improve muscle protein synthesis in individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, the effects of whole-body NMES in combination with timed protein intake on muscle protein metabolism during bed rest are still unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of both a single session and repeated sessions of whole-body NMES, with or without subsequent protein intake, on muscle protein synthesis rates, muscle mass, and function during 3 days of bed rest in healthy young adults. Study Design: This is a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with three parallel groups. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: * Control Group (CON): Sham-NMES + standard nutrition * NMES Group (NMES): Whole-body NMES + standard nutrition * NMES + Protein Group (NMES+PRO): Whole-body NMES + 20g protein bolus Study Procedures: Participants will be healthy adults (18-35 years, male and female) and will undergo the following procedures: * 3 days of strict bed rest to simulate hospitalization-related muscle disuse * Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) sessions to assess its effect on muscle metabolism * Muscle biopsies to measure changes in muscle protein synthesis at the molecular level * Consumption of deuterium oxide (D₂O or "heavy water") to track muscle protein turnover * Multiple blood and saliva samples to analyze protein metabolism markers * Leg extension tests to assess changes in muscle function * Quadriceps muscle thickness measurements via ultrasound * Calf circumference measurements to assess muscle mass changes This study will provide critical insights into how NMES and protein intake can help counteract muscle loss and weakness during hospitalization and may contribute to the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies for ICU and bedridden patients.