The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Protein Dose on Muscle Protein Synthesis

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Muscle Protein Synthesis
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Dose of protein; Other: Menstrual cycle phase

• Registration Number: NCT05178732
• Lead Sponsor: University of Exeter

Brief Summary

Adaptation to resistance exercise requires maximal rates of muscle protein synthesis, which can be achieved with post-exercise ingestion of \~20g of protein. These recommendations are based on studies in males and responses in females may vary.

Muscle recovery is related to the ability to build new muscle protein from amino acids (muscle protein synthesis). This response is thought to be impacted in females by hormones that fluctuate across different phases of the menstrual cycle. However, the effect of menstrual cycle phase on muscle protein synthesis is not known.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-12-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-01-04
• Study First Posted: 2022-01-05
• Study Start: 2022-01-16
• Primary Completion: 2023-02-28
• Study Completion: 2023-03-31
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-23
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 28

Inclusion Criteria

• BMI between 18 and 30
• Recreationally active
• Regular menstrual cycle

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Exclusion Criteria

• Smoking
• Metabolic disease
• Any motor disorder
• Use of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, during the study.
• Pomegranate, milk or lidocaine allergy
• Taken contraceptives in the past 3 months
• Irregular menstrual cycle (less than 9 cycles per year and a length not between 21-35 days)
• Post-menopausal women
• Pregnancy and lactation

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Protein dose 2 and early	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 1 and late	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 2 and early	Dose of protein	-
Protein dose 2 and late	Dose of protein	-
Protein dose 2 and late	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 3 and early	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 3 and late	Dose of protein	-
Protein dose 3 and late	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 1 and early	Dose of protein	-
Protein dose 1 and early	Menstrual cycle phase	-
Protein dose 1 and late	Dose of protein	-
Protein dose 3 and early	Dose of protein	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Muscle protein synthesis	7.5 hours	The rate of synthesis of new muscle protein

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Plasma amino acid kinetics	7.5 hours	The appearance of amino acids in the circulation.
Serum insulin concentrations	7.5 hours	Basal and postprandial concentrations of serum insulin
Blood flow	7.5 hours	Basal and postprandial blood flow using ultrasound
Gene expression	7.5 hours	Gene expression of muscle samples using RNA extraction
Blood glucose	7.5 hours	Basal and postprandial concentrations of blood glucose
Sex hormone concentrations	5 minutes	Serum oestrogen and progesterone

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Exeter; 🇬🇧 Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom