The Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation on Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis and Performance Recovery in Resistance-Trained Men

• Published in: Nutrients 2020-03, Vol.12 (3), p.845
• Main Authors: Davies, Robert W, Bass, Joseph J, Carson, Brian P, Norton, Catherine, Kozior, Marta, Wilkinson, Daniel J, Brook, Matthew S, Atherton, Philip J, Smith, Ken, Jakeman, Philip M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adolescent; Adult; Alanine; Amino acids; Biomarkers; Compliance; Creatine; Creatine kinase; Deuterium; deuterium oxide; dietary protein; Dietary Supplements; exercise performance; Fitness training programs; Force; Gas chromatography; Gene Expression; Heavy water; Humans; Isotope ratios; Male; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Muscle contraction; Muscle function; Muscle recovery; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles; Myofibrils - metabolism; Nutrition research; Physical training; Protein Biosynthesis; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Pyrolysis; Resistance Training; skeletal muscle; Whey; Whey protein; Whey Proteins - administration & dosage; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12030845

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein supplementation on myofibrillar protein synthesis (myoPS) and muscle recovery over a 7-d period of intensified resistance training (RT). In a double-blind randomised parallel group design, 16 resistance-trained men aged 18 to 35 years completed a 7-d RT protocol, consisting of three lower-body RT sessions on non-consecutive days. Participants consumed a controlled diet (146 kJ·kg ·d , 1.7 g·kg ·d protein) with either a whey protein supplement or an isonitrogenous control (0.33 g·kg ·d protein). To measure myoPS, 400 ml of deuterium oxide (D O) (70 atom %) was ingested the day prior to starting the study and m. vastus lateralis biopsies were taken before and after RT-intervention. Myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (myoFSR) was calculated via deuterium labelling of myofibrillar-bound alanine, measured by gas chromatography-pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-Pyr-IRMS). Muscle recovery parameters (i.e., countermovement jump height, isometric-squat force, muscle soreness and serum creatine kinase) were assessed daily. MyoFSR PRE was 1.6 (0.2) %∙d (mean (SD)). Whey protein supplementation had no effect on myoFSR ( = 0.771) or any recovery parameter ( = 0.390-0.989). Over an intense 7-d RT protocol, 0.33 g·kg ·d of supplemental whey protein does not enhance day-to-day measures of myoPS or postexercise recovery in resistance-trained men.