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Whey Protein Support to Metabolic and Performance Adaptations in Response HIIT

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Muscle, Skeletal
High-Intensity Interval Training
Exercise
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Nutrient support to HIIT
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT03570424
Lead Sponsor
University of Limerick
Brief Summary

High intensity interval training (HIIT) has recently emerged as a time efficient alternative to conventional endurance exercise, conferring similar or superior benefits in terms of metabolic and performance adaptations in both athletic and non-athletic populations. Some of these physiological adaptations include augmented mitochondrial biogenesis and improved substrate metabolism in peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle. However, nutritional strategies to optimise the adaptations to HIIT have yet to be established. Recent evidence suggests that acute nutritional status can affect the molecular regulation of genes mediating substrate metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that completion of exercise in fasted conditions augments some of these exercise-induced adaptations compared with the fed state. Given the fact that the transient molecular adaptations to acute exercise mediate long-term physiological adaptations, an investigation into the effects of different nutritional interventions on metabolic and performance responses to HIIT is warranted.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of fasted vs. fed-state (Whey Protein) HIIT on metabolic and performance adaptations in the acute (single exercise session) and chronic (3 weeks, 9 exercise sessions) phases. The primary hypothesis is that different pre-exercise feeding conditions (e.g. fasted placebo vs. Whey protein fed) will result in divergent physiological adaptations in terms of skeletal muscle metabolism and performance, both in response to a single HIIT session and a chronic HIIT intervention.

Detailed Description

High intensity interval training (HIIT) has recently emerged as a time efficient alternative to conventional endurance exercise, conferring similar or superior benefits in terms of metabolic and performance adaptations in both athletic and non-athletic populations. Some of these physiological adaptations include augmented mitochondrial biogenesis and improved substrate metabolism in peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle. However, nutritional strategies to optimise the adaptations to HIIT have yet to be established. Recent evidence suggests that acute nutritional status can affect the molecular regulation of genes mediating substrate metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that completion of exercise in fasted conditions augments some of these exercise-induced adaptations compared with the fed state. Given the fact that the transient molecular adaptations to acute exercise mediate long-term physiological adaptations, an investigation into the effects of different nutritional interventions on metabolic and performance responses to HIIT is warranted.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of fasted vs. fed-state (Whey Protein) HIIT on metabolic and performance adaptations in the acute (single exercise session) and chronic (3 weeks, 9 exercise sessions) phases. The primary hypothesis is that different pre-exercise feeding conditions (e.g. fasted vs. Whey protein fed) will result in divergent physiological adaptations in terms of skeletal muscle metabolism and performance, both in response to a single HIIT session and a chronic HIIT intervention.

A randomly assigned, parallel group, simple pre-post design has been adopted to answer this question. 3 groups of young (aged 18-35 y), healthy, recreationally active, aerobically untrained (VO2max \<50 ml.kg.min-1), protein sufficient (\>0.8 g.kg.d-1), males will undertake 3 weeks (9 sessions) of HIIT under different nutrient conditions following \>10h overnight fast: i) Fasted placebo (0.33g.kg-1 body mass artificially flavoured and textured placebo); ii) Fed Whey protein (0.33g.kg-1 body mass intact whey protein 45 minutes prior to exercise); iii) Fed Whey protein hydrolysate (0.33g.kg-1 body mass hydrolysed whey protein 45 minutes prior to exercise). Participants will undergo biological sampling (venous blood and muscle biopsy) and measures of performance pre and post the intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
35
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy (absence of clinical condition)
  • Recreationally active
  • Aerobically untrained (VO2max <50 ml.kg.min-1)
  • Protein sufficient (>0.8 g.kg.d-1)
  • Males
  • Able to provide informed consent
  • No contraindications to high intensity exercise
Exclusion Criteria
  • BMI >30 kg.m-2
  • Metabolic disease (mitochondrial, Type 2 Diabetes)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Whey ProteinNutrient support to HIITIntervention (Nutrient support to HIIT): Participants consume 0.33g.kg-1 body mass intact whey protein 45 minutes prior to HIIT exercise
PlaceboPlaceboIntervention (Nutrient support to HIIT): Participants consume 0.33g.kg-1 body mass of artificially flavoured and textured placebo 45 minutes prior to HIIT exercise
Whey Protein HydrolysateNutrient support to HIITIntervention (Nutrient support to HIIT): Participants consume 0.33g.kg-1 body mass hydrolysed whey protein 45 minutes prior to HIIT exercise
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Organelle Biogenesis (Mitochondrial) AcuteAcute - 3 hours post exercise session 1

Acute phase - change in Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor 1 alpha (PGC-1α) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in response to a single HIIT session. Measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Exercise PerformanceChronic - 72 hours post exercise session 9

Mean power output (Watts) during 20 minute cycling performance test. Measured using cycle ergometer and associated software.

Anaerobic Exercise PerformanceChronic - 72 hours post exercise session 9

Anaerobic exercise performance peak power (Watts). Measured using 30 second Wingate test on a Monark 894E cycle ergometer.

Organelle Biogenesis (Mitochondrial) ChronicChronic - 48 hours post exercise session 9

Chronic Phase - change in Citrate Synthase Activity measured using commercially available assay kits.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Organelle Biogenesis (Mitochondrial)Acute: 3 hours post HIIT session 1.

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 (PDK4), Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor (PPAR) delta, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) mRNA expression. Measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Cycling EconomyChronic - 72 hours post exercise session 9

Cycling economy (W.VO2 L.min-1) during multiple incremental stages (50 W, 100 W, 150 W, 200 W, 250 W) of a submaximal cycling test.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Limerick

🇮🇪

Limerick, Munster, Ireland

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