Vegan or Animal Protein Ingestion on the Recovery of Muscle Function Following Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Recovery animal (20g whey) protein supplement
Dietary Supplement: Recover vegan (26g pea) protein supplement
Dietary Supplement: Placebo (32g maltodextrin)

Brief Summary: This study will assess the effect of daily post-exercise vegan (pea) and animal (whey) protein ingestion compared to placebo over 7 days of recovery from strenuous exercise. Muscle strength and soreness will be measured daily, and mechanisms underpinning recovery will be investigated in muscle biopsies taken 3, 24 and 48 hours after exercise.

Detailed Description: Strenuous exercise can cause muscle soreness and reduced muscle strength. It is widely acknowledged that nutritional supplements derived from animal protein sources, including whey from milk, aids recovery when taken immediately after strenuous exercise. However, the effect of vegan protein supplements are less understood, and how they affect recovery of strength and soreness is not known. This is an important area of research due to the increasing demand for plant-based protein.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Regular and structured involvement in resistance training
Inactive participants
Habitual dietary protein intake <0.8g/kg bw/day and >2.0g/kg bw/day
Use of nutritional supplements
Any diagnosed metabolic conditions (diabetes), cardiovascular disease or hypertension
Current musculoskeletal injury
Use of anti-inflammatory medicines
Individuals with non -removable metallic implants (including heart pacemaker, cochlea implants, medication pumps, surgical clips, plates or screws) or claustrophobia
Individuals with an allergy to egg, fish, wheat or soy ingredients as the product is manufactured in a facility that contains these ingredients

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Animal Protein	Recovery animal (20g whey) protein supplement	-
Vegan Protein	Recover vegan (26g pea) protein supplement	-
Placebo	Placebo (32g maltodextrin)	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in isokinetic work (W30) performed before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.	Once per 24 hour period for 7 days	The recovery of skeletal muscle isokinetic force production following eccentric exercise using an isokinetic dynamometer

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived quadriceps muscle soreness	Once per 24 hour period for 7 days	Soreness will be assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle soreness following eccentric exercise. This scale will represent a 100mm line with no pain and worst pain anchored at either end of the scale.
Muscle swelling	Once per 24 hour period for 3 days	Determine whether the protein supplement can reduce muscle swelling following eccentric exercise assessed using MRI
Rate of protein incorporation into the muscle	Once per 24 hour period for 3 days	Determine whether the strenuous exercise and a protein supplement can upregulate protein synthesis following strenuous exercise assessed by muscle biopsies
Plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity before and every 24 h after performing 300 maximal eccentric quadriceps contractions.	Once per 24 hour period for 7 days	Damage and inflammatory bio markers following strenuous exercise assessed by blood sample
Change in flow mediated dilation	Once hourly post exercise for 3 hours	Determine whether the protein polyphenol supplement can impact vascular function following eccentric exercise

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