Consuming Whey Protein with Added Essential Amino Acids, not Carbohydrate, Maintains Post-Exercise Anabolism while Underfed.

Abstract

Energy deficiency decreases muscle protein synthesis (MPS), possibly due to greater whole-body essential amino acid (EAA) requirements and reliance on energy stores. Whether energy deficit-induced anabolic resistance is overcome with non-nitrogenous supplemental energy or if increased energy as EAA is needed is unclear. We tested the effects of energy as EAA or carbohydrate, combined with an EAA-enriched whey protein, on post-exercise MPS (%/h) and whole-body protein turnover (g protein/240 min). 17 adults (mean ± SD; age: 26 ± 6 y, BMI: 25 ± 3 kg/m2) completed a randomized, parallel study including two 5-d energy conditions (BAL, energy balance; DEF, -30 ± 3% energy requirements) separated by ≥7 d. Volunteers consumed EAA-enriched whey with added EAA (+EAA; 304 kcal, 56 g protein, 48 g EAA, 17 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat; n = 8) or added carbohydrate (+CHO; 311 kcal, 34 g protein, 24 g EAA, 40 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat; n = 9) following exercise. MPS and whole-body protein synthesis (PS), breakdown (PB), and net balance (NET; PS-PB) were estimated postexercise with isotope kinetics. MPS rates were greater in +EAA (0.083 ± 0.02) than +CHO (0.059 ± 0.01; P = 0.015) during DEF, but similar during BAL (P = 0.45) and across energy conditions within treatments (P = 0.056). PS rates were greater for +EAA (BAL, 117.9 ± 16.5; DEF, 110.3 ± 14.8) than +CHO (BAL, 81.6 ± 8.0; DEF, 83.8 ± 5.9 g protein/240 min; both P < 0.001), and greater during BAL than DEF in +EAA (P = 0.045). PB rates were less in +EAA (8.0 ± 16.5) than +CHO (37.8 ± 7.6 g protein/240 min; P < 0.001), and NET was greater in +EAA (106.1 ± 6.3) than +CHO (44.8 ± 8.5 g protein/240 min; P < 0.001). These data suggest that supplementing EAA-enriched whey protein with more energy as EAA, not carbohydrate, maintains postexercise MPS during energy deficit at rates comparable to those observed during energy balance.