The Effect of Insect vs Animal Protein on Post-exercise Skeletal Muscle Anabolic Response and Chronic Adaption to Resistance Training
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of Surrey
- Enrollment
- 34
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Anabolic signalling
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This research is being carried out to investigate the potential of insects (crickets) as a sustainable protein source for supporting human muscle tissue by comparing cricket protein to a commonly used animal protein (whey). Insects have been used as protein source for many years in East-Asian and African cultures. More recently the interest in this potential protein source has been growing in Western countries due to the negative environmental impact of producing animal foods and the increased awareness of animal welfare issues in the food chain. Insects are a more sustainable protein source, requiring less land, water and feed, and producing less carbon emissions (greenhouse gases) compared to farming livestock (e.g. cows, pigs, chickens etc.) However, up until now there is no clear evidence that insect-derived protein has the same nutritional properties as animal-derived protein. Recent data from our research group indicates that there appears to be no difference in the digestibility of an insect protein compared to a traditional animal protein amongst younger, middle-aged and older adults. The investigators now want to explore the potential of insect protein to increase muscle mass and strength.
Detailed Description
Aims
- To investigate the impact of insect (cricket) compared to animal (whey) protein on skeletal muscle anabolism (building and repair of muscle tissue) following a bout of resistance exercise.
- To explore the change in muscle mass and strength following 12 weeks of resistance training whilst consuming cricket or whey protein daily.
Screening
Written informed consent will be taken prior to any procedures being performed. At the screening visit, participants will complete a health questionnaire and basic anthropometric measurements will also be taken (height and weight). The screening session will be conducted by a member of the research team at the University of Surrey physiology lab (Duke of Kent building). If all the inclusion criteria are met, the participant will be invited to join the study. Applicants who don't meet the inclusion criteria will be excluded from the study at this point. Screening data from excluded participants will not be stored, however a summary of how many participants were excluded and for what reasons will be kept for publication purposes. A favourable ethical opinion will be obtained from NHS ethics committee before starting this study. All participants will receive information about the procedures, risks, inconveniences, and benefits of participation from the investigator. Whilst the study does not aim to identify any health irregularities, participants will be informed prior to taking part that if any abnormal health parameter is identified then this will be highlighted to them and they may be advised to follow up with their GP.
Baseline testing
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Adult males and females in general good health (aged 18+)
- •BMI between 18.5 and 35 kg/m2
- •Weight stable for 3 months (± 2 kg)
- •Volunteers must be able and willing to give informed written consent
- •Volunteers must be willing to provide blood and muscle tissue samples
- •Volunteers must have been resistance training at least 3x per week for a minimum of 2 years
- •Volunteers must be willing to follow a resistance training programme and consume a daily protein supplement for 12 weeks
- •Not allergic to local anaesthetic
Exclusion Criteria
- •Injury or illness that prevents the adherence to 12 weeks resistance training and protein supplementation
- •Those with metabolic conditions such as diabetes
- •Those taking nutritional ergogenic aids (e.g. creatine, beta-alanine, sodium bicarbonate, dietary nitrate etc.)
- •Those smoking, using nicotine products (e.g., e-cigarettes, patches) or not abstained from these activities for more than 6 months
- •Pregnant or lactating (those who become pregnant during this study must notify the researchers immediately and the participant will be removed)
- •Volunteers with a habitual caffeine intake >400 mg/day (more than 5 cups standard coffee)
- •Drug or alcohol abuse in the last 2 years
- •Those who are taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) or have previously taken PEDs in the previous 10 years
- •Those who do not refrain from alcohol, caffeine containing drinks (e.g., coffee, coca cola, tea, Red Bull) and strenuous exercise 12 hours before the phase 1 visit
- •Those with food allergies
- •Those following weight loss diets
- •Those who are vegan, vegetarian or refrain from dairy/egg consumption
Arms & Interventions
Cricket protein
Group consuming cricket protein
Intervention: protein supplement (Dietary Supplement)
Whey protein
Group consuming whey protein
Intervention: protein supplement (Dietary Supplement)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Anabolic signalling
Time Frame: From baseline measurement to 6 hours later
Changes in mTORC1 signalling in skeletal muscle from baseline to post-prandial following cricket or whey protein ingestion after exercise
Muscle mass
Time Frame: From baseline measures at enrolment to the end of the training and supplementation period at 12 weeks
Changes in lean mass following 12 weeks of daily consumption of cricket or whey protein in conjunction with regular resistance training
Muscle strength
Time Frame: From baseline measures at enrolment to the end of the training and supplementation period at 12 weeks
Changes in muscular strength following 12 weeks of daily consumption of cricket or whey protein in conjunction with regular resistance training
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported