Protein Requirements in Male and Female Endurance Athletes

NCT ID: NCT04855474

Last Updated: 2023-07-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 16 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-03-08
• Study Completion Date: 2022-12-30

Brief Summary

Protein is an essential macronutrient for post-exercise recovery through its ability to provide the amino acid building blocks that support increased rates of muscle and whole body protein synthesis.

Despite the growing understanding of the importance of post-exercise protein in endurance athlete populations, the impact of sex and female menstrual cycle phase on protein metabolism is not fully understood. To date, no studies have examined protein requirements in female endurance trained athletes.

The aim of the proposed study is to utilize the well-established IAAO method to determine protein requirements in endurance trained female and male athletes in a "real-world" and at-home setting.

Conditions

Increased Metabolic Requirement; Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Low Protein

0.2 g/kg/day of protein provided as crystalline amino acid made after egg protein.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Amino Acid Intake

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume hourly (8 hours) isoenergetic, isonitrogenous beverages containing one of the three protein intakes (0.2g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d, 2.0g/kg/d) assigned in a randomized order between the three metabolic trials. Drinks will be enriched with stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine. The use of stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine will allow for the determination of the fate of AA in the body (incorporation into body protein or oxidation) which can be used to determine protein (AA) requirements.

Moderate Protein

1.2g/kg/day of protein provided as crystalline amino acid made after egg protein.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Amino Acid Intake

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume hourly (8 hours) isoenergetic, isonitrogenous beverages containing one of the three protein intakes (0.2g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d, 2.0g/kg/d) assigned in a randomized order between the three metabolic trials. Drinks will be enriched with stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine. The use of stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine will allow for the determination of the fate of AA in the body (incorporation into body protein or oxidation) which can be used to determine protein (AA) requirements.

High Protein

2.0 g/kg/day of protein provided as crystalline amino acid made after egg protein.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Amino Acid Intake

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will consume hourly (8 hours) isoenergetic, isonitrogenous beverages containing one of the three protein intakes (0.2g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d, 2.0g/kg/d) assigned in a randomized order between the three metabolic trials. Drinks will be enriched with stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine. The use of stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine will allow for the determination of the fate of AA in the body (incorporation into body protein or oxidation) which can be used to determine protein (AA) requirements.

Interventions

Amino Acid Intake

Participants will consume hourly (8 hours) isoenergetic, isonitrogenous beverages containing one of the three protein intakes (0.2g/kg/d, 1.2 g/kg/d, 2.0g/kg/d) assigned in a randomized order between the three metabolic trials. Drinks will be enriched with stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine. The use of stable isotope \[13C\]phenylalanine will allow for the determination of the fate of AA in the body (incorporation into body protein or oxidation) which can be used to determine protein (AA) requirements.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Healthy endurance trained runners. Total weekly running distance of greater than 50km/week and perform endurance exercise for more than 5 hours/week.
• Age 18-35 years old
• Eumenorrheic over last 3 months (one cycle no longer than 42 days and no shorter than 20 days).
• Not using hormonal contraceptives (the pill, implants and injections, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), vaginal ring, skin patch).
• Do not have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or other conditions effecting ovarian hormone regularity.
• Not pregnant within the past year.
• Must meet the classification of 'superior' aerobic power for their respective age category based on the ACSM criteria; (women age 20-29 years VO2max >50ml/kg/min and women age 30-35 years VO2max >46ml/kg/min) (men age 20-29 years VO2max >56ml/kg/min and men age 30-35 years VO2max >54ml/kg/min).

Exclusion Criteria

• Inability to meet health and physical activity guidelines according to the CSEP 'Get Active' Questionnaire (Appendix G).
• Inability to adhere to study protocol requirements relating to diet and exercise (i.e. alcohol and caffeine consumption, training/exercise prior to beginning a study testing day).
• Regular use of tobacco and/or other recreational drugs/banned substances (i.e. growth hormone, testosterone, marijuana).
• Self-reported intentional or unintentional weight loss (past 6 months) or plan to lose weight (>5-10kg).
• Amenorrhea (self-reported) in the past 3 months.
• Fewer than 6 menstrual cycles per year.
• Answering yes to any questions asked within the COVID-19 screening questionnaire until 14 days of being symptom free and/or having a negative COVID-19 test

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Daniel Moore

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Daniel Moore, Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Toronto

Locations

Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Williamson E, Fung HJW, Adams C, West DWD, Moore DR. Protein Requirements Are Increased in Endurance-Trained Athletes but Similar between Females and Males during Postexercise Recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Oct 1;55(10):1866-1875. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003219. Epub 2023 May 19.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 37710376 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

IAAO-ETFM

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id