Muscle Response to Different Amounts of Dietary Protein During Leg Immobilization

Conditions

• Muscle Disuse
• Muscle Disuse Atrophy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

17 Years - 39 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• 20 grams protein — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
  20 grams of whey protein provided as beverage
• 40 grams protein — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
  40 grams of whey protein provided as beverage

Study Details

Individuals who sustain musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) can experience a rapid loss of muscle mass due to declines in muscle loading and activation that occur post-injury (i.e., disuse atrophy). Loss of muscle under these conditions is attributed to a persistent negative net muscle protein balance (muscle protein synthesis \[MPS\] \< muscle protein breakdown) that results, in part, from declines in postprandial MPS (i.e., anabolic resistance). Nutritional interventions that enhance postprandial MPS may be used to overcome disuse-induced anabolic resistance and preserve muscle mass to accelerate recovery and improve recovery outcomes. While supplemental protein has been explored as a potential countermeasure to disuse-induce anabolic resistance, the observed efficacy of such interventions has been mixed. Equivocal findings across studies may be attributed, in part, to an insufficient understanding of what constitutes an effective protein-based intervention. Importantly, no study to date has determined an optimal protein dose for overcoming disuse-induce anabolic resistance, or if there is a threshold for maximally stimulating postprandial MPS under disuse conditions. Therefore, the objective of this work is to determine rates of MPS at rest and in response to standard (20 g) or high (40 g) doses of whey protein during knee immobilization (DISUSE) compared with standard activity (ACTIVE)

Key Dates

Start date

Sep 1, 2025

Status verified

Sep 2025

Primary completion

Sep 30, 2026

Completion

Sep 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

28 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

• Active Comparator: Standard Protein Dose
  Participants will consume 20 g of whey protein after 5 days of muscle disuse
• Active Comparator: High Protein Dose
  Participants will consume 40 g of whey protein after 5 days of muscle disuse

Primary Outcome Measure

Rates of postabsorptive and postprandial muscle protein synthesis assessed using 2H5-Phenylalanine stable isotope methodologies. [ Time Frame: After 5 days of muscle disuse ]

Central Contacts

• Emily E Howard, PhD
  508-206-2309
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Natick, MA

Related Studies

• Immune Cells During Disuse and Recovery
  Recruiting · University of Utah · Salt Lake City, Utah