Hospitalization often involves long periods of bed rest and reduced nutritional intake, which can lead to skeletal muscle loss and anabolic resistance. These effects slow recovery and increase the risk of complications, long-term disability and healthcare costs. Animal-based proteins are effective at stimulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS) because they contain all essential amino acids and have high bioavailability, but they are less sustainable. Plant-based proteins are more environmentally friendly but may be less effective for MPS due to lower essential amino acid content and lower digestibility. Combining different plant proteins may improve their quality, yet their impact during bed rest is still unclear. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may help counteract anabolic resistance by mimicking exercise, but its long-term effects in bedridden individuals are not well studied. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial aims to assess the effects of a nutritional intervention (plant-dominant versus dairy-based protein) and a physical stimulus (NMES versus non-NMES) on MPS during 4 days of bed rest in healthy young adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
20
Containing plant-based proteins.
Containing animal-based proteins.
The protocol will consist of a warm-up period (5 min), a stimulation period (30min), and a cooling-down period (5min).
Maastricht University
Maastricht, Netherlands
Muscle protein synthesis rate
Muscle protein synthesis rate after 4 day exclusive enteral tube feeding that is nutritionally complete with plant-dominant proteins versus animal-based proteins. This is measured using the deuterated water (2H2O) method.
Time frame: 1-4 days
Muscle protein synthesis rate
Muscle protein synthesis rate after NMES versus non-NMES. This is measured using the deuterated water (2H2O) method.
Time frame: 1-4 days
Muscle fiber size in µm²
Muscle fiber size will be assessed using immunofluorescence staining.
Time frame: Final intervention day (after 4 days of enteral feeding and 4 days of NMES)
Proportion (%) of muscle fiber types (type I and type II)
Fiber proportion will be assessed using immunofluorescence staining.
Time frame: Final intervention day (after 4 days of enteral feeding and 4 days of NMES)
Myonuclei quantity
Myonuclei quantity will be assessed using immunofluorescence staining.
Time frame: Final intervention day (after 4 days of enteral feeding and 4 days of NMES)
Mitochondrial Respiratory Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle Assessed by High-Resolution Respirometry
Mitochondrial respiratory capacity will be quantified in skeletal muscle fibers using high-resolution respirometry (Oroboros O2k FluoRespirometer). Measurements will include oxygen flux rates across defined respiratory states.
Time frame: Final intervention day (after 4 days of enteral feeding and 4 days of NMES)
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