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Modulation of Muscle Protein Metabolism by Essential Amino Acids

Not Applicable
Conditions
Old Age
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids
Dietary Supplement: 3g Leucine
Dietary Supplement: 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Registration Number
NCT01890369
Lead Sponsor
University of Nottingham
Brief Summary

The investigators plan to explore the ability of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins in our bodies and in the food we eat, to stimulate muscles to grow and stay strong. The investigators will investigate how rapidly after one meal the human body is ready to make use of a second meal and look at the molecular mechanisms underlying this. The investigators will look at these phenomena in older men as this group is known to be subject to a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength.

Detailed Description

Muscles can stay very constant in size for much of adult life yet dramatic wasting is seen in advanced age and ill health. A better understanding of how muscles regulate their size will help design treatments to slow wasting in disease and to promote active aging. We plan to study a group of older men, \~70yrs, the age at which muscle bulk starts to decrease, to observe how the muscles respond to feeding. We will provide a drink that contains the digested products of proteins from which muscles are built. Taking blood samples and some tiny biopsies of muscle (done under local anaesthesia) will allow us to measure muscle turnover and we will be able to measure for how long after a meal muscles actively take in nutrients before becoming "full". We will also measure how long the muscle remains "full" before it returns to a state where it can again be stimulated to take in nutrients. We will also explore if leucine, one of the component parts of protein (especially in meat and dairy products) and a food widely used supplement, can promote the early re-stimulation of muscle by eating.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria
  • Male
  • 65-75yrs
  • BMI 18-28
Exclusion Criteria
  • Type 2 Diabetes mellitus
  • Neurological Disease
  • Significant cardiac, hepatic or renal disease
  • Active malignancy
  • Medication inc. Corticosteroids, NSAID use, Beta adrenoblockers.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Early leucine refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 90 min delay. 3g Leucine
Early leucine refeed3g Leucine15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 90 min delay. 3g Leucine
Early EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 90 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Early EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 90 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Mid latency EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 150 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Mid latency EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 150 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Late latency EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 210 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Late latency EAA refeed15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED15g Mixed Essential Amino Acids. 210 min delay. 15g Mixed Essential Amino Acid REFEED
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Myofibrillar Fractional Synthetic Rate6-10hrs

Assessed by gas-chromatography-combustion-mass spectrometry, using incorporation of a stable isotope tracer (13-C-6 Phe)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Muscle Protein Breakdown6-10hrs

By Arteriovenous limb balance

mTORC1 and AKT phosphorylation6-10hrs

Western Immunoblotting

Leg blood flow6-10hrs

Common femoral bulk flow (Doppler USS)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

School of Graduate Entry Medicine

🇬🇧

Derby, United Kingdom

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