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Ingestion of 20 g Whey or Canola Protein Does Not Further Increase Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates During Recovery From Resistance Exercise In Healthy, Young Females

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Protein ingestion during recovery from exercise can further increase muscle protein synthesis rates. Plant-derived proteins are generally believed to have lesser anabolic properties than animal-derived proteins. To our knowledge, no studies have compared the impact of plant-derived with that of animal-derived protein ingestion on postexercise muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy, young females. OBJECTIVES: This study compared muscle protein synthesis rates following the ingestion of 20 g native canola protein, 20 g whey protein, or a noncaloric placebo during recovery from a single bout of resistance exercise in healthy, young females. METHODS: ]-phenylalanine infusions were applied with frequent sampling of blood and muscle tissue to assess postprandial plasma amino acid profiles and 5-h postexercise muscle protein synthesis rates. Data are presented as mean ± SD. RESULTS: Plasma essential amino acid concentrations strongly increased following ingestion of both whey and canola protein when compared with the placebo treatment (peak: 2113 ± 354, 1249 ± 173, and 780 ± 60 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001) with greater postprandial plasma essential amino acid availability following whey than after canola protein ingestion (incremental AUC, 158 ± 50 and 90 ± 23 mmol/L × 5 h; P < 0.001). No significant differences in postexercise muscle protein synthesis rates were observed following the ingestion of whey protein isolate, canola protein isolate, and placebo (0.071 ± 0.015, 0.069 ± 0.016, and 0.061 ± 0.013%/h, respectively; treatment; P = 0.200). CONCLUSIONS: A single session of resistance exercise strongly increases muscle protein synthesis rates in young females. Ingestion of 20 g whey or native canola protein does not further augment muscle protein synthesis rates during the early stages of postexercise recovery in healthy, young females. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05664269.

Source: Journal of Nutrition

DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.10.018