The Incorporation of Dietary Protein-Derived Amino Acids in Duodenal Mucosal Protein in Young and Older Males

Skeletal muscle tissue is in a constant state of remodelling, regulated by the balance between tissue protein synthesis and breakdown rates, with a turnover rate of 1-2% per day. It has been well established that protein ingestion is a major anabolic stimulus for muscle protein synthesis. Dietary protein ingestion provides amino acids that stimulate protein synthesis by both functioning as substrate and as signalling molecules that upregulate anabolic pathways.

The anabolic properties of dietary protein largely depend on the protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics and subsequent increase in plasma amino acid availability. Following protein ingestion, protein is cleaved into small peptides and amino acids by digestive enzymes. Subsequently, these amino acids are absorbed across the intestinal mucosa by various membrane-bound transporters. The majority of dietary protein derived amino acids is released into the systemic circulation and transported and taken up by various peripheral tissues in the postprandial phase. However, a substantial part of the ingested protein does not become available in the circulation. This part is either not (yet) digested and absorbed, or the absorbed amino acids are taken up by splanchnic tissues, such as the gut and liver, providing precursors for de novo tissue protein synthesis, termed first-pass splanchnic extraction. Previous work in our laboratory has estimated that up to 40% of the protein derived amino acids are taken up and incorporated in the intestinal tract and liver tissues. The intestine is the most highly regenerative organ in the human body, regenerating its epithelium every 3 to 5 days. It has been suggested that the absorbed amino acids are utilized by epithelial cells for rapid cell proliferation, generating new cells to maintain healthy mucosa. Human studies on the incorporation of dietary protein-derived amino acids in intestinal mucosal protein have not been performed. Therefore, the aim of the present explorative in vivo study is to assess, for the first time, the incorporation of dietary protein-derived amino acids in duodenal mucosal protein in humans, and the systemic availability of dietary protein-derived amino acids.

Aging is accompanied by a blunted muscle protein synthetic response to protein ingestion. This proposed anabolic resistance may be related to a decreased postprandial amino acid release in the circulation, due to impairments in protein digestion and amino acid absorption, and greater first-pass splanchnic amino acid extraction in older individuals. Whether dietary protein-derived amino acid incorporation in intestinal mucosal protein is increased with aging remains to be established. Therefore, the current study will use the data on incorporation of dietary protein-derived amino acids in duodenal mucosal protein and postprandial amino acid plasma availability obtained in young and older individuals to evaluate potential age-related differences.

Two primary hypotheses will be tested:

1. It is hypothesized that part of the absorbed amino acids will be directly incorporated in duodenal epithelium within 5 hours after protein ingestion.
2. It is hypothesized that the extent of postprandial incorporation of dietary protein derived amino acids in duodenal epithelium will be greater in older compared to young males.