No Difference between Spray Dried Milk and Native Whey Supplementation with Strength Training

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2019-01, Vol.51 (1), p.75-83
• Main Authors: HAMARSLAND, HåVARD, HANDEGARD, VILDE, KÅSHAGEN, MAURITZ, BENESTAD, HAAKON B, RAASTAD, TRULS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - metabolism; Adult; Amino Acids - blood; Animals; Applied Sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Creatine Kinase - blood; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Elongation Factor 2 Kinase - metabolism; Female; Humans; Insulin - blood; Male; Milk Proteins - administration & dosage; Muscle Proteins - biosynthesis; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Performance-Enhancing Substances - administration & dosage; Phosphoproteins - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Resistance Training; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa - metabolism; Urea - blood; Whey Proteins - administration & dosage; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001758

BACKGROUNDA rapid digestibility and high leucine content are considered important for maximal stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. Consequently, with these properties, native whey may hold greater anabolic potential than milk, when supplemented in combination with strength training. Our aim was to compare the effects of supplementation with milk or native whey, during a 12-wk strength training period, on gains in muscle mass and strength in young adults. METHODSIn this double-blinded, randomized, controlled study a total of 40 untrained young men and women received two daily servings of either milk or native whey containing 20 g of protein, during a 12-wk strength training intervention. Muscle strength, lean mass, thigh muscle cross-sectional area, m. vastus lateralis thickness and muscle fiber cross-sectional area were assessed before and after the training period. In addition, the acute phosphorylation of the anabolic kinases p70S6K, 4E-BP1 and eEF-2 in response to a standardized workout and supplementation was investigated before and after the 12-wk training period. RESULTSMuscle mass and strength increased, by all measures applied (5%–16%, P < 0.001), with no differences between groups (P > 0.25). p70S6K phosphorylation increased (~1000%, P < 0.02) 2 h after exercise in the untrained and trained state, but no differences in anabolic signaling were observed between supplements (P > 0.40). No correlation between these acute measures and changes in muscle mass or strength were observed. CONCLUSIONSupplementation with milk or native whey during a 12-wk strength training period did not differentially affect muscle mass and strength in young untrained individuals.