Native Whey Induces Similar Post Exercise Muscle Anabolic Responses as Regular Whey, Despite Greater Leucinemia, in Elderly Individuals

H Hamarsland,M Cotter,H B Benestad,E Børsheim,S N Aas,K Holte,G Paulsen,T Raastad,I Garthe,A L Nordengen

doi:10.1007/s12603-018-1105-6

Abstract

ObjectiveElderly muscle seems less sensitive to the anabolic stimulus of a meal. Changes in blood concentrations of leucine are suggested as one important trigger of the anabolic response in muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate whether native whey protein, containing high amounts of leucine, may be a more potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in elderly than regular whey protein (WPC-80) or milk.DesignRandomized controlled partial crossover.SettingNorwegian School of Sport Sciences.Participants21 healthy elderly men and women (≥70 years).InterventionParticipants received either 20 g of WPC-80 and native whey (n = 11) on separate days in a crossover design, or milk (n = 10). Supplements were ingested immediately and two hours after a bout of lower body heavy-load resistance exercise.MeasurementsBlood samples and muscle biopsies were collected to measure blood concentrations of amino acids by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS), phosphorylation of p70S6K, 4E-BP1 and eEF-2 by immunoblotting and mixed muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR) by use of [2H5]phenylalanine-infusion, GCMS and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry.ResultsNative whey increased blood leucine concentrations more than WPC-80 (P < 0.05), but not p70S6K phosphorylation or mixed muscle FSR. Both whey supplements increased blood leucine concentrations (P < 0.01) and P70S6K phosphorylation more than milk (P = 0.014). Native whey reached higher mixed muscle FSR values than milk (P = 0.026) 1-3h after exercise.ConclusionsDespite greater increases in blood leucine concentrations than WPC-80 and milk, native whey was only superior to milk concerning increases in MPS and phosphorylation of P70S6K during a 5-hour post-exercise period in elderly individuals.

Highlights

Reaching this higher protein intake may become a challenge as appetite is often depressed in elderly [8]
We have previously shown native whey to induce greater leucine blood concentrations than WPC-80 and milk, in young participants after resistance exercise [16]
Phosphorylation of p70S6K was elevated with all supplements after exercise (Figure 4A), and displayed the same temporal pattern as previous studies supplementing with milk protein or EAA after resistance exercise in elderly individuals [11, 12]

Summary

Introduction

Reaching this higher protein intake may become a challenge as appetite is often depressed in elderly [8]. This condition can proceed to sarcopenia, become more important in the elderly population. The anabolic which is linked to loss of independent living [1] and several effect observed after protein intake is driven by the essential comorbidities [2]. Effects of interventions to counteract leucine to a suboptimal protein dose can overcome the anabolic sarcopenia increases with an increased aged population [3]. The resistance and stimulate MPS in elderly to the same levels as loss of muscle mass must result from an imbalance between in young [11, 12]. Because fasting MPS has been shown not to differ dose is suboptimal

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