Effects of a Multi-ingredient Supplement Study: a Randomized Controlled Trial in Men and Women

Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy Clinical Trial

— SRCT  

Official title:

Effects of a Whey Protein-based Multi-ingredient Supplement on Muscle Strength, Hypertrophy, and the Acute Satellite Cell Response, in Men and Women: a Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03525197
• Other study ID #: HIREB 4449
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: January 2020
• Source: McMaster University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Resistance exercise training is a known stimulant for muscle protein synthesis (MPS) to occur, however the consumption of protein is also necessary to induce a shift towards a positive net protein balance. Other nutrients have been shown to be useful in the accretion of lean body mass and strength. Whey protein has been shown to improve muscle net protein balance after resistance exercise, more so when in conjunction with creatine. Furthermore, essential amino acids such as Leucine have been found to be important in moderating the shift towards a positive net protein balance, especially post-exercise and in combination with whey protein. Other vitamins and minerals have been shown to aid in permitting muscle protein synthesis rather than stimulating it, but are still necessary for optimal gains in hypertrophy. The effect of a multi-ingredient compound has rarely been investigated, and thus this study aims to combine whey protein, leucine, creatine, calcium citrate and vitamin D and test it in a resistance exercise training program over 12 weeks. Another novel aspect in this study will be testing this supplement against a placebo of equal amounts of protein and amino acids, the placebo will contain collagen protein and the non-essential amino acids alanine and glycine. Finally, this study will recruit both men and women (ages 18-30) to determine possible effects of the supplement on muscle hypertrophy in both sexes. We hypothesize that the synergistic effect of the ingredients in our supplement will induce hypertrophy to a larger degree than resistance exercise training with the placebo, and that these benefits will persist in both male and female participants.

Description:

Supplementation in the form of whey protein, creatine and amino acids have all been shown to be a potent stimulus for muscle hypertrophy, when combined with resistance exercise. Burke et al. (2001) reported that males who supplemented with a combination of whey protein and creatine had greater increases in lean tissue mass and strength than those who supplemented with only whey protein or placebo. Hulmi at al. (2010) identified the most important component of whey to be its high concentration of the branched chain amino acid leucine, a critical amino acid for increasing muscle protein synthesis and suppressing muscle protein breakdown. The combination of leucine and whey protein has been shown to promote significant increases in muscle cross-sectional area. Vitamin D and calcium citrate have also been shown to enhance increases in muscle strength and lean mass, albeit in a permissive rather than stimulatory manner. Protein supplements have consistently been shown to promote greater gains in hypertrophy than their placebo counterparts, however these placebo supplements are often isoenergetic carbohydrate-based formulas. Few studies have compared two supplements with an equal amount of protein and amino acids, or have combined multiple beneficial ingredients to form a multicomponent supplement to promote greater gains in lean body mass and strength. Finally, sex differences in resistance training programs have rarely been studied, less so when testing a new supplement. Thus, the purpose of this study will be to determine whether there is an augmented effect of our nutritional supplement on the degree of hypertrophy in young male and female adults involved in a resistance training program. This nutritional supplement will be compared with a placebo containing an equivalent amount of collagen protein and non-essential amino acids. A secondary analysis will assess sex-based differences in strength and muscle size. Based on previous literature, we hypothesize that the combinatorial effect of whey protein, leucine, creatine, calcium citrate and vitamin D will induce hypertrophy to a larger degree than resistance exercise with the placebo in young adults.

A synergistic combination of ingredients with known benefits will be given twice daily to healthy young men and women (18-30 years old), (n = 22) in conjunction with a 12-week undulating periodized resistance training protocol, in which the repetition number and intensity of the training sessions will vary. Notable ingredients in this supplement include whey protein isolate (20g), leucine (2g), creatine monohydrate (2.5g), calcium citrate (300mg) and vitamin D (1000IU). The placebo condition, also comprised of males and females (18-30 years old), (n=22) will ingest a formulation containing an equivalent amount of collagen protein (20g), as well as an equivalent amount of amino acids (alanine, 1.4g and glycine, 0.6g). Pre- and post- assessments will include dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), one-rep maximum (1RM), and an ultrasound of the quadriceps. Four muscle biopsies will be taken from the vastus lateralis: 1) at rest prior to training, 2) 48h after an acute bout of exercise prior to training, 3) at rest post-training, and 4) 48h after an acute bout post-training. This allows for comparisons of acute and trained effects of both conditions. Using novel immunohistochemical staining procedures we will examine the resistance exercise-induced changes in fibre type distribution and fibre cross-sectional area in the supplement and placebo conditions as well as perform sex-based comparisons.

The novel aspect of this study will be the comparison of two isoenergetic, isonitrogenous supplements as stimulants for muscle protein accretion, as opposed to using carbohydrates as a placebo. The supplement will contain a new formulation of ingredients yet to be studied together. The synergistic effect of these ingredients will attempt to maximize muscle growth in both males and females, meaning that associations between sex and exercise can be assessed. This research will help us identify a new method to augment resistance exercise training through protein, amino acids, vitamins and minerals as well as expand the literature surrounding the effects of these ingredients on muscle hypertrophy.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 26
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: June 1, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 30 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-30 years old

• Healthy based on questionnaire responses (see exclusion criteria)

• Recreationally active (exercising ~2x/week) with some resistance training experience (no more than 2 times weekly) allowed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any acute or chronic illness, cardiac, pulmonary, liver, or kidney abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension, insulin- or non-insulin dependent diabetes or other metabolic disorders-all ascertained through medical history screening questionnaires

• Arthritic conditions

• Individuals who consume any analgesic or anti-inflammatory drug(s), prescription or non-prescription, chronically will be excluded

• A history of neuromuscular complications

• Individuals on any medications known to affect protein metabolism (i.e. corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, or prescription strength acne medications).

• Extensive history of resistance training in the year prior to study entry.

• Answers 'yes' to any question on the screening questionnaire

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hypertrophy
• Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Whey protein-based supplement
High quality protein supplement to be consumed twice daily
• Collagen protein-based supplement
Lower quality protein supplement to be consumed daily

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Exercise Metabolism Research Laboratory, McMaster Univeristy	Hamilton	Ontario
Canada	Ivor Wynne Center	Hamilton	Ontario

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
McMaster University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (8)

Burke DG, Chilibeck PD, Davidson KS, Candow DG, Farthing J, Smith-Palmer T. The effect of whey protein supplementation with and without creatine monohydrate combined with resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscle strength. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Sep;11(3):349-64. — View Citation

Coburn JW, Housh DJ, Housh TJ, Malek MH, Beck TW, Cramer JT, Johnson GO, Donlin PE. Effects of leucine and whey protein supplementation during eight weeks of unilateral resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2006 May;20(2):284-91. — View Citation

Hulmi JJ, Lockwood CM, Stout JR. Effect of protein/essential amino acids and resistance training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy: A case for whey protein. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Jun 17;7:51. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-7-51. — View Citation

Paddon-Jones D, Sheffield-Moore M, Zhang XJ, Volpi E, Wolf SE, Aarsland A, Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR. Amino acid ingestion improves muscle protein synthesis in the young and elderly. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Mar;286(3):E321-8. Epub 2003 Oct 28. — View Citation

Rondanelli M, Klersy C, Terracol G, Talluri J, Maugeri R, Guido D, Faliva MA, Solerte BS, Fioravanti M, Lukaski H, Perna S. Whey protein, amino acids, and vitamin D supplementation with physical activity increases fat-free mass and strength, functionality, and quality of life and decreases inflammation in sarcopenic elderly. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Mar;103(3):830-40. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.113357. Epub 2016 Feb 10. — View Citation

Tang JE, Manolakos JJ, Kujbida GW, Lysecki PJ, Moore DR, Phillips SM. Minimal whey protein with carbohydrate stimulates muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise in trained young men. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007 Dec;32(6):1132-8. — View Citation

Tomlinson PB, Joseph C, Angioi M. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on upper and lower body muscle strength levels in healthy individuals. A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Sci Med Sport. 2015 Sep;18(5):575-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.022. Epub 2014 Aug 11. Review. — View Citation

Verreijen AM, Verlaan S, Engberink MF, Swinkels S, de Vogel-van den Bosch J, Weijs PJ. A high whey protein-, leucine-, and vitamin D-enriched supplement preserves muscle mass during intentional weight loss in obese older adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Feb;101(2):279-86. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.090290. Epub 2014 Nov 26. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Muscle Mass and fiber cross-sectional area	dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), ultrasound	10 weeks
Secondary	Satellite cell number, density, type I/type II fibre specific satellite cells and myonuclear domain	Histochemical methods will be used to determine how the supplement and training affect muscle growth and regenerative capacity, specifically the behaviour of satellite cells.	10 weeks
Secondary	Strength	1RM testing pre- and post-training will be compared to determine how the supplement and training affect muscular strength	10 weeks
Secondary	Fiber type distribution	Histochemical methods will be used to determine how the supplement and training affect fiber type distribution (% type I vs. % type II fibers pre- and post-training)	10 weeks