Meals containing equivalent total protein from foods providing complete, complementary, or incomplete essential amino acid profiles do not differentially affect 24-hour skeletal muscle protein synthesis in healthy, middle-aged women

Abstract

BackgroundDietary protein quality can be assessed by skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) stimulation. Limited knowledge exists on how consuming isonitrogenous meals with varied protein qualities affect postprandial and 24-h MPS. ObjectiveWe assessed the effects of protein quality and complementary proteins on MPS. We hypothesized that meals containing a moderate amount of high-quality, complete protein would stimulate postprandial and 24-h MPS. Meals with two complementary, plant-based incomplete proteins would stimulate MPS less, and meals with plant-based incomplete proteins at each meal, but complementary over 24 h would not stimulate MPS. DesignThis quasi-experimental study included a randomized, crossover design to assess protein quality and a non-randomized low-protein control. We measured postprandial and 24-h MPS responses of healthy middle-aged women (n=9, age 56±4 y), to three dietary conditions: isonitrogenous meals containing 23 g protein/meal from i) complete protein (lean beef); ii) two incomplete, but complementary protein sources (navy/black beans and whole wheat bread); and iii) single incomplete protein sources (black beans or whole wheat bread at a meal), but providing a complete amino acid profile over 24 h. In the low-protein group women (n=8, 54 ± 5 y) consumed a single breakfast meal containing 5 g of protein. Venous blood and vastus lateralis samples were obtained during primed, constant infusions of L-[ring-13C6] phenylalanine to measure mixed muscle fractional synthetic rates (FSR). ResultsMeals with complete, complementary, or incomplete proteins did not differentially influence FSR responses after breakfast (p=0.90) or 24 h (p=0.38). At breakfast, the complete (p=0.030) and complementary (p=0.031) protein meals, but not the incomplete protein meal (p=0.38), had greater FSR responses, compared to the low-protein control meal. ConclusionsIsonitrogenous meals containing a moderate serving of total protein from foods providing complete, complementary, or incomplete essential amino acid profiles do not differentially stimulate muscle protein synthesis after a meal and daily. Clinical Trials RegistryThis clinical trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03816579.URL:; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03816579?term=NCT03816579&draw=2&rank=1